祭礼・祭禮|さいれいsairei[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun(religious) festival

• Synonym祭りまつりNeutralColloquial and much more common: covers shrine festivals but also fairs and events of all kinds. 「祭礼」 suggests a formal shrine rite of worshipping the gods.
• Synonym祭典さいてんWrittenWritten. A grand festival or celebration, e.g. 「スポーツの祭典」; unlike 「祭礼」, not restricted to religion.
• Synonym祭事さいじWrittenWritten. Shinto rites and worship, with the focus on the ritual itself; rare in everyday use.
• Synonym祭祀さいしWrittenWritten. Rites of worshipping gods or ancestral spirits; a religious, scholarly tone.
• Synonym祝祭しゅくさいWrittenWritten. Festive celebrations and holidays, as in 「祝祭日」; has a joyous nuance rather than a shrine rite.
• RelatedフェスティバルNeutralLoanword for modern events such as arts and music festivals; no religious rite implied.
• Related祝い事いわいごとNeutralHappy, auspicious occasions; private celebrations, not a shrine ritual like 「祭礼」.
• Related祝典しゅくてんWrittenWritten. A celebratory ceremony, held by nations, schools or companies; 「祭礼」 is a rite of worshipping the gods.
• Relatedお祭りおまつりNeutralColloquial polite form of 「祭り」, leaning to lively festive events; 「祭礼」 is the formal shrine ritual.
• RelatedフェスNeutralAbbreviated loanword for music festivals, e.g. 「ロックフェス」; casual and modern.
• Related祭式さいしきWrittenWritten. The prescribed procedures and etiquette of a religious rite; about ritual form rather than the festival.

Use 「祭礼」 for a shrine's customary rite of worshipping the gods, as in 「秋の祭礼」「祭礼行事」. For festivals and fairs in general say 「祭り」 or 「お祭り」; for grand celebrations 「祭典」; for music festivals 「フェス」.

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

1. 神かみを祭祀さいしする儀式ぎしき。特とくに神社じんじゃの祭まつり。