礼貌 (lǐ mào) — (noun) politeness, courtesy, manners; (adjective) polite, courteous

Definition

礼貌 (lǐmào) means 'politeness / polite' as a general character trait — safe in almost any context. 客气 is more about social formality in specific acts (saying please, standing on ceremony); 礼节 refers to specific rules of etiquette.

noun
politenesscourtesymanners
adjective
politecourteous

Examples

  • ，礼貌。
    Zài gōng gòng chǎng hé, lǐ mào hěn zhòng yào.
    In public places, politeness is very important.
  • 礼貌。
    Tā shì yí gè hěn lǐ mào de xué shēng.
    She is a very polite student.
  • 礼貌。
    Tā shuō huà hěn lǐ mào.
    He speaks very politely.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

礼lǐpropriety
貌màomanner

礼 (propriety) and 貌 (manner) together express courteous behavior.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 禮; 礼 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
礻Written in full as示shìaltar
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ禮lǐ
Same sound today

The traditional form 禮 pairs 礻 (altar) with 豊, a sound part, for performing rites at the altar; the simplified 礼 is a later shorthand.

Open 礼 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
皃皃màolooks
Sound part声符shēngfú
豹
豹bào貌
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

貌 uses 皃, an older picture of a face, to show looks, and 豹 as a sound part.

Open 貌 →
Appears in
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