礼 polite

ネ (NEcrophilia) + (hook)
★★★★☆
5 strokes
BETAPN

Onyomi

REI

Mnemonic

The polite necrophiliac kept his lovers on meat-hooks, so RAY wouldn't step on them when he came over. Thoughtful!

Jukugo

失礼(しつれい) な

rude ★★★★☆
失 (miss out on) + 礼 (polite) = 失礼 (rude)

rude, without manners.

お礼(おれい) に

in thanks for ★★★☆☆

in thanks for. As in, "In thanks for the sweater, I bought him a moray eel."

礼儀(れいぎ)

Formal manners ★★☆☆☆
礼 (polite) + 儀 (politeness) = 礼儀 (Formal manners)

Manners used in formal situations: correct bowing proceedures, sonkeigo, respecting heirarchy.

礼金(れいきん)

key money ★★☆☆☆
礼 (polite) + 金 (gold) = 礼金 (key money)

literally 'politeness money.' - sometimes the phrase "key money" is also used - as if that explains anything. This is the legalized bribe you pay for the privilege of paying rent on a new apartment.

Lookalikes

Meaning Hint Radical
机 desk DIAPER
乱 disorder TONGUE 舌
札 card / label / bill TREE 木
礼 polite NECROPHILIAC ネ

There's a DIAPER on my desk,

so use your TONGUE to clean up that disorder.
The card was printed on TREE bark.
NECROPHILIACS are very polite because they never get a lady pregnant or give her an STD.

Synonyms

polite
礼儀    丁寧