礼|れいrei[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounthanks; gratitude
   彼女かのじょの親切しんせつな助言じょげんに対たいして彼かれは礼れいを述のべた。↗

   He thanked her for her kind help.
2. nounmanners; etiquette
3. noun, counterbow (i.e. bending of the body); bowing
4. nounreward; gift
5. nounceremony; ritual
6. nounkey money

• Synonymお礼おれいNeutralThe polite form of 「礼」; the everyday word for saying thanks or giving a thank-you gift, as in 「お礼を言う」. Bare 「礼」 mostly appears in set phrases like 「礼をする」「礼を尽くす」.
• Synonym感謝かんしゃNeutralThe feeling of gratitude itself, as in 「感謝の気持ち」; 「礼」 also covers etiquette and bowing.
• Synonym謝礼しゃれいNeutralA payment or gift made to express thanks, as in 「謝礼を払う」; 「礼」 is broader.
• Synonym謝意しゃいWrittenWritten/formal prose: gratitude, and also apology, as in 「謝意を表する」; 「礼」 is more colloquial.
• Synonym謝辞しゃじWrittenWritten/formal prose: words of thanks, such as the acknowledgements in a paper; 「礼」 is the gratitude or courtesy itself.
• Related礼儀れいぎNeutralManners and courtesy as social custom, as in 「礼儀正しい」; 「礼」 can also mean thanks or a bow.
• Related作法さほうNeutralRules of conduct and behaviour, as in 「食事の作法」; 「礼」 leans toward abstract courtesy and thanks.
• Related礼節れいせつWrittenWritten/formal prose: decorum that upholds social order, as in 「礼節を重んじる」; in daily speech say 「礼儀」.
• RelatedエチケットNeutralA loanword for social etiquette with a Western flavour, as in 「エチケット違反」; 「礼」 is broader.
• Related儀礼ぎれいWrittenCourtesy or religious rites fixed by convention, as in 「儀礼的な挨拶」; 「礼」 is broader.
• Related行儀ぎょうぎNeutralBehaviour and deportment, as in 「行儀が悪い」; 「礼」 leans toward courtesy and thanks.
• Related典礼てんれいWrittenWritten/formal prose: ceremonies and rites, including Catholic liturgy; 「礼」 is courtesy and etiquette.
• RelatedマナーNeutralA loanword for manners and polite behaviour, as in 「マナーを守る」; 「礼」 can also mean thanks.
• Related礼式れいしきWrittenWritten/formal prose: the set forms and procedures of etiquette, or manners for expressing courtesy; not used in everyday speech.
• Related礼法れいほうWrittenWritten/formal prose: the rules observed in formal ceremonial etiquette; in daily speech say 「礼儀作法」.
• Related行儀作法ぎょうぎさほうNeutralEveryday rules of behaviour and deportment, e.g. in a child's upbringing; 「礼」 leans toward courtesy and thanks.
• Related礼儀作法れいぎさほうNeutralA four-character term for etiquette rules as a whole; 「礼」 is shorter and more abstract.
• Related礼典れいてんWrittenWritten/formal prose: rules of etiquette or ceremonial rites; not used in everyday speech.
• Related風儀ふうぎWrittenWritten/formal prose: the customs and conventions of a place or era, as in 「家の風儀」; 「礼」 is courtesy.
• Antonym無礼ぶれいNeutralThe opposite of 「礼」 on the politeness axis: rudeness, especially disrespectful behaviour toward superiors.

For everyday thanks and thank-you gifts use 「お礼」; for the feeling of gratitude use 「感謝」; for money or gifts expressing thanks use 「謝礼」. For manners and courtesy use 「礼儀」 or 「マナー」; for rules of behaviour use 「作法」 or 「行儀」. Bowing is 「礼をする」. The written terms 謝意, 謝辞, 礼節, 礼式, 礼法, 儀礼, 典礼, 礼典, 風儀 belong to formal prose; 「礼」 itself mostly appears in set phrases.

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

1. （レイ）相手あいてに対たいしての感謝かんしゃの気持きもちや、それを表あらわす言葉ことば。
2. （レイ）相手あいてに対たいしての感謝かんしゃの気持きもちを表あらわす贈り物おくりもの。
3. （レイ）社会しゃかい常識じょうしきとしての作法さほうや行動規範こうどうきはん。礼儀れいぎ。
4. （レイ）頭あたまを下さげるあいさつ。おじぎ。
5. （レイ）宮中きゅうちゅうの儀式ぎしき。