祭事|さいじsaiji[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounfestival; rites; ritual

• Synonym祭りまつりNeutralThe everyday word for a festival or matsuri, with a lively, festive feel; more colloquial than 「祭事」 and not limited to religious rites.
• Synonym祭典さいてんWrittenWritten/formal prose for a grand, splendid ceremonial event, as in 「スポーツの祭典」; grander than 「祭事」.
• Synonym祭祀さいしWrittenWritten/formal prose for the rites of worshipping gods and ancestors themselves; more solemn than 「祭事」.
• Synonym祭礼さいれいWrittenWritten/formal prose for worship rites held at a shrine; leans more to shrine festivals than 「祭事」.
• Synonym祭儀さいぎWrittenWritten/formal prose for the rites performed in worship; focuses on the ritual itself more than 「祭事」.
• Synonym祝祭しゅくさいWrittenWritten/formal prose for festive celebrations, blending congratulations with festivals; more celebratory than 「祭事」.
• RelatedフェスティバルNeutralA modern loanword, mostly for music, film and similar cultural festivals, though it can also mean religious festivals; more contemporary than 「祭事」.
• Related祝典しゅくてんWrittenWritten/formal prose for a celebratory ceremony; secular congratulation rather than religious rites like 「祭事」.
• Relatedお祭りおまつりCasualA colloquial, politer way of saying 「祭り」; warmer and more everyday than 「祭事」.
• RelatedフェスCasualColloquial abbreviation, mostly for rock and other music festivals; usually unrelated to worship, whereas 「祭事」 leans to religious rites.
• Related聖祭せいさいFormalFormal term for Catholic rites such as mass; 「祭事」 is the general word for worship events.

Use 「祭事」 in written prose for religious rites and festivals. In daily speech say 「祭り」 or 「お祭り」; for the rites themselves 「祭祀」 or 「祭儀」; for grand celebrations 「祭典」; for cultural festivals 「フェスティバル」.

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

1. 祭まつり。神事しんじ。祭祀さいし。