Refers to proper conduct or courtesy expected in social situations; common in expressions such as 礼をわきまえる.
彼は年下にも礼を尽くす人だ。
He is someone who shows proper courtesy even to people younger than him.
客の前では礼をわきまえた態度を取りなさい。
Behave with proper manners in front of the guests.
noun, counter
The physical act of bowing; also used in counting bows in set ritual phrases such as 二礼二拍手一礼.
彼女は深く礼をした。
She made a deep bow.
神社では二礼二拍手一礼をする。
At the shrine, you bow twice, clap twice, and bow once.
noun
reward; gift of thanks
A recompense or gift given in return for help; お礼 is the more everyday polite form, while plain 礼 often appears in direct or terse expressions.
犬を見つけてくれたら礼はします。
If you find my dog, I will give you a reward.
noun
Used for formal rites and ceremonies, especially in compounds or fixed names such as 即位の礼.
即位の礼が厳かに行われた。
The enthronement ceremony was held solemnly.
noun
Real-estate abbreviation for 礼金, the non-refundable key money paid when renting a property; mostly seen in listings and ads.
See also: 礼金
この物件は敷一、礼一と書いてある。
This listing says one month deposit and one month key money.
不動産広告の「礼」は礼金の略です。
In real-estate ads, “礼” is short for key money.
More common and polite for thanks or a thank-you gift; 礼 is plainer and also has broader senses such as etiquette, bowing, and ritual.
Focuses specifically on manners and etiquette; 礼 is shorter and can also mean thanks, a bow, a rite, or a reward.
The everyday word for bowing as a gesture; 礼 is more formal or set-phrase-like when it means a bow.
The full real-estate term for key money; 礼 is a listing abbreviation.
れい is the Sino-Japanese reading of 礼, a kanji conventionally associated with courtesy, propriety, ritual, and thanks. The word's meanings reflect these established written associations rather than a single transparent modern decomposition.