How to say "rite" in Japanese

• 儀式ぎしきJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThe general word for a rite or ceremony, religious or secular, and the safest choice in most contexts. Use it for weddings, funerals, graduation rites and similar formal occasions.
  この儀式ぎしきは幾いく世代せだいにもわたって伝つたわってきた。↗

  This ceremony has been handed down from generation to generation.
• 儀典ぎてんCommon
  nounA formal, rather stiff word for rites and ceremonies of an official or institutional kind, such as court or state functions. It is a vocabulary-level term; in ordinary speech 儀式 is usually what you want.
• 式しきJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA shorter, everyday word for a ceremony or rite, often as a standalone event like a wedding or opening ceremony. It also covers 'celebration' senses, and appears in many established ceremony-related terms.
  社長しゃちょうの挨拶あいさつが長ながくて式しきの後半こうはんが押せ押おせおせになってしまった。↗

  The company president's welcome was so long that we were squeezed for time in the second half of the ceremony.
• 儀礼ぎれいCommon
  nounBest for rites in the sense of religious or traditional observance — repeated ritual acts with formal, ceremonial overtones. Less apt for a single one-off ceremony like a wedding, where 儀式 fits better.

For most everyday senses of 'rite', 儀式 or 式 is the natural choice; 儀礼 suits religious ritual, and 儀典 is a formal word for official ceremonial rites that learners will rarely need.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 儀式ぎしきceremony
• 儀典ぎてんceremony
• 法式ほうしきrule
• 式しきceremony
• 儀礼ぎれい(religious) observance