典礼 diǎnlǐ ceremony
ceremony; celebration
How to remember 典礼: 典 reference book + 礼 gift = ceremony.
Characters
How it is used
- A formal ceremony - 毕业典礼 (bìyè diǎnlǐ) graduation ceremony; 开幕典礼 (kāimù diǎnlǐ) opening ceremony.
- Reserved for grand, organized rituals (graduations, openings, weddings); 仪式 (yíshì) is the broader word for any rite, including small or religious ones.
- Almost always appears in a fixed compound naming the occasion.
Example sentences
- 我不想参加典礼。 Wǒ bùxiǎng cānjiā diǎnlǐ.I don't want to participate in the ceremony.
- 我理所当然地认为她会参加我们的结婚典礼。 Wǒ lǐsuǒdāngrán de rènwéi tā huì cānjiā wǒmen de jiéhūndiǎnlǐ.I took it for granted that she would come to our wedding.
- 明天举行典礼。 Míngtiān jǔxíng diǎnlǐ.The ceremony will take place tomorrow.