noun, noun, used as a suffix
Used as a standalone noun or as a suffix in compounds such as 国葬 (state funeral) or 密葬 (private funeral).
彼の葬は家族だけで行われた。
His funeral was held with only family present.
国葬が営まれることになった。
It was decided that a state funeral would be held.
葬式 is the more common, everyday word for a funeral ceremony. 葬 is more formal and often used in compounds or official contexts.
葬儀 also means funeral, but is slightly more formal than 葬式. 葬 is a shorter, bound form often seen in compounds.
The kanji 葬 is a phono-semantic compound, combining 死 (death) and a phonetic element. The reading そう is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi.