How to Write 礼 (lǐ) — Meaning “Gift / Etiquette / Rite”

Imagine you are at an altar (礻) and you bend your body in a polite bow (the curved line 乚) as you give a gift. This image of bowing before the altar reminds you that 礼 means 'etiquette' or 'gift'.

The left radical 礻 has four strokes: dot, horizontal, left-falling, and vertical, and the right part 乚 is a single stroke (a horizontal then a vertical hook). A common mistake is to write the right part as two separate strokes, but it should be one continuous curve. Also, make sure the left side is slightly narrower than the right.

礻 is just a radical and never stands alone as a full character, while 礼 has the extra curved stroke on the right. 社 (shè) looks different: its right side is 土 (earth), which has a horizontal line at the bottom, not a single curve like 礼. Meaning-wise, 礼 is about ceremonies and manners, while 社 means society or organization.

You see 礼 in common words like 礼物 (gift), 礼貌 (politeness), and 婚礼 (wedding). In Chinese culture, 礼 is central to Confucian ideals of proper behavior and respect, and China is often called 礼仪之邦 (a land of etiquette). It is used whenever you talk about giving presents, showing good manners, or attending ceremonies.

Common words containing 礼 include: 礼物 (lǐ wù) — Gift; present; 礼貌 (lǐ mào) — Politeness / Manners; 婚礼 (hūn lǐ) — Wedding ceremony.