Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

儀式 (ぎしき) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

儀ぎ式しき

ぎ

し

き

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

ceremony; rite; ritual; service

Refers to a formal, often traditional, set of actions performed on a special occasion. Can be religious, social, or official.

結

けっ

婚こん

式しき

の

儀ぎ

式しき

は

厳おごそ

か

に

行おこな

わ

れ

た

。

The wedding ceremony was conducted solemnly.

茶さ道どうの儀ぎ式しきには細こまかい決きまりがある。

The tea ceremony ritual has detailed rules.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉の儀ぎ式しきを行おこなうto hold/perform a ceremony (for something)
神じん社じゃで結けっ婚こんの儀ぎ式しきを行おこなった。
They held a wedding ceremony at the shrine.
儀ぎ式しきに参さん加かするto take part in a ceremony
多おおくの人ひとが卒そつ業ぎょうの儀ぎ式しきに参さん加かした。
Many people took part in the graduation ceremony.
儀ぎ式しきを執とり行おこなうto solemnly conduct a ceremony (formal, often religious)
僧そう侶りょが葬そう儀ぎの儀ぎ式しきを執とり行おこなった。
The monk solemnly conducted the funeral rite.
〈人ひと〉が儀ぎ式しきを司つかさどるfor someone to officiate a ceremony
村むらの長ちょう老ろうがその儀ぎ式しきを司つかさどった。
The village elder officiated the ceremony.

Kanji

儀ceremony, rule, affair
式style, ceremony, rite

Related words· 7

式しきN4
式 is a broader, more casual word for a ceremony or function (like 結婚式), while 儀式 stresses formal, ritualistic procedure.
儀ぎ礼れいN1
儀礼 focuses on the formal etiquette or protocol observed on an occasion, whereas 儀式 refers to the actual ceremony or rite itself.
祭さい典てん
祭典 suggests a festive, celebratory event open to the public, while 儀式 is typically solemn and procedural.
祭まつりN4
祭り is a lively, often public festival, while 儀式 is a solemn, structured ceremony.

Show 3 more

式しき典てん
儀式 tends to refer to a ritual, often religious or traditional, while 式典 is broader and used for secular, official ceremonies.
儀ぎ
儀式 names a concrete, structured ceremonial event, whereas 儀 is the more archaic, abstract word that can refer to the ceremony itself or a formal matter.
セレモニーN1
儀式 refers to a formal rite with traditional or religious weight, whereas セレモニー is more neutral and modern in feel.

Don't confuse with

意い識しきN3
儀式 (ぎしき, 'ceremony') and 意識 (いしき, 'consciousness/awareness') sound similar but are unrelated in meaning.

Word family

儀ぎ式しき用よう
for ceremonial use; ceremonial
儀ぎ式しき的てき
ceremonial; ritual; ritualistic; formal
葬そう儀ぎ式しき
funeral ceremony; wake
儀

Etymology

Compound of 儀 (ぎ, 'ceremony, rule') and 式 (しき, 'ceremony, form'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination has long been used to denote formal ritual procedures.

ぎ

式しき

主しゅ

義ぎ

ritualism; ceremonialism

儀ぎ式しき張ばる

be formal; stick to formality; be ceremonious