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礼服 (れいふく, reifuku) Japanese meaning: formal dress | Kotomora

礼れい服ふく

れ

い

ふ

く

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

formal dress; ceremonial dress

Refers to clothing worn for formal occasions such as ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and official events. Often contrasted with 平服 (plain clothes).

See also: 平服

結けっ婚こん式しきには礼れい服ふくを着きて行

い

き

ます

。

I will wear formal dress to the wedding.

葬そう儀ぎでは黒くろの礼れい服ふくが一いっ般ぱん的てきです。

Black formal attire is common at funerals.

Usage patterns

礼れい服ふくを着きるto wear formal dress
結けっ婚こん式しきのために礼れい服ふくを着きた。
I wore formal dress for the wedding.
礼れい服ふく姿すがたで〈場ば所しょ〉に出しゅっ席せきするto attend (a place/event) dressed in formal attire
礼れい服ふく姿すがたで式しき典てんに出しゅっ席せきした。
I attended the ceremony dressed in formal attire.

Kanji

礼salute, bow, ceremony
服clothing, admit, obey

Related words

正せい装そうN1
正装 refers broadly to dressing formally for an occasion, while 礼服 specifically denotes the actual formal garment worn (e.g. a suit or dress).
喪も服ふく
喪服 is formal clothing worn specifically for funerals and mourning, while 礼服 is formal wear in general, worn at weddings, ceremonies, or funerals alike.
タキシード
礼服 is the broad category of formal wear for ceremonies, while タキシード refers specifically to the Western-style dinner jacket with satin lapels and a bow tie.

Opposites

平へい服ふく
平服 means ordinary, casual clothes, the direct opposite of 礼服, which is worn for formal ceremonies.

Don't confuse with

喪も服ふく
喪服 refers specifically to mourning attire worn at funerals, whereas 礼服 is the broader term covering any formal dress, including weddings and ceremonies.

Counted with

着ちゃくN2
礼服 is counted with 着, the standard counter for full articles of clothing like suits and dresses.

Word family

大たい礼れい服ふく
court dress; full-dress uniform
略りゃく礼れい服ふく
semiformal attire; semiformal dress

Etymology

Compound of 礼 (rei, 'ceremony, etiquette') and 服 (fuku, 'clothing').