How to say "rites" in Japanese

• 式典しきてんCommon
  nounCovers 'rites' as formal ceremonies: official or public ceremonial events such as openings and commemorations. For religious or ritual observances, 祭儀 or 祭事 is the closer match.
  彼かれはその式典しきてんで堂々どうどうと振る舞ふるまった。↗

  He bore himself well at the ceremony.
• 祭儀さいぎCommon
  nounThe word for rites in the religious sense: solemn ritual acts of worship. It points to the rite or ritual itself rather than to the festival as a public event.
• 祭事さいじCommon
  nounCovers 'rites' in their festival sense: festive occasions and the rituals performed at them. It is the only one of the three that also covers 'festival', so it suits rites viewed as festival events.

Use 式典 for rites in the sense of formal ceremonies, 祭儀 for rites as religious or ritual observances, and 祭事 when the rites are part of a festival or festive occasion.

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

• 式典しきてんceremony
• 祭儀さいぎrites
• 祭事さいじfestival
• 祭式さいしきrites