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礼拜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
礼拜lǐbàiweekHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #2377, Hard
礼拜lǐbàireligious serviceHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #2377, Hard
礼拜lǐbàiworshipHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #2377, Hard
lǐbài(li3bai4)li bai T3
  1. 1week
  2. 2religious service
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March 24, 2026

礼拜(禮拜)lǐbài(li3bai4)

礼拜 (lǐbài) refers to a week or a religious service in a Christian context, commonly used to denote the day of worship or the act of attending such services. It conveys a sense of time associated with weekly cycles and spiritual practices, often used in conversation about schedules or religious observances.

Strokes14Frequency#2377DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

礼拜 is closely tied to the Christian tradition in China, where many people attend church services on Sundays. This reflects the interaction between Western religious practices and Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Think of 礼 (lǐ) as 'ritual' and 拜 (bài) as 'to worship'. Visualize a weekly ritual where people gather, dressed in fine clothes, to pray and worship together. The combination of these ideas helps you remember the pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 礼拜

lǐbài(li3bai4)
1week
2religious service
Exercise 1 of 3

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About 礼拜

礼拜Simplified
禮拜Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

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Podcast: 礼拜

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AI Study Notes for 礼拜

Quick Contrast

周 (zhōu) refers to a week in a general sense, while 礼拜 (lǐbài) specifically emphasizes the religious aspect of the week.

Usage Notes

While 礼拜 is mainly used in a religious context, learners should avoid using it for secular references to 'week'. It is typically used in more formal contexts, such as worship services. A common collocation is 礼拜天 (lǐbài tiān), which means 'Sunday'.

HSK Study Tips

礼拜 is relevant for HSK 4 learners, as it introduces vocabulary related to time and specific cultural practices. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in religious contexts and differentiating it from other words for 'week' like 星期 (xīngqī).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 礼拜 with 星期 when discussing regular weeks. For example, saying '我有一个礼拜的假期' (wǒ yǒu yī gè lǐbài de jiàqī) is incorrect; it should be '我有一个星期的假期' (wǒ yǒu yī gè xīngqī de jiàqī).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 礼拜

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Component Characters

礼lǐgift
HSK 55 strokes礻
View full entry
拜bàito pay respect
HSK 19 strokes手
View full entry

How to say week in Chinese

“week” in Chinese is礼拜lǐbài

礼拜 (lǐbài) refers to a week or a religious service in a Christian context, commonly used to denote the day of worship or the act of attending such services. It conveys a sense of time associated with weekly cycles and spiritual practices, often used in conversation about schedules or religious observances.

When to use 礼拜

While 礼拜 is mainly used in a religious context, learners should avoid using it for secular references to 'week'. It is typically used in more formal contexts, such as worship services. A common collocation is 礼拜天 (lǐbài tiān), which means 'Sunday'.

礼拜 or something close to it

周 (zhōu) refers to a week in a general sense, while 礼拜 (lǐbài) specifically emphasizes the religious aspect of the week.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 礼拜 with 星期 when discussing regular weeks. For example, saying '我有一个礼拜的假期' (wǒ yǒu yī gè lǐbài de jiàqī) is incorrect; it should be '我有一个星期的假期' (wǒ yǒu yī gè xīngqī de jiàqī).

Write 礼拜

礼
拜

Practice writing 礼拜 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Common Confusions with 礼拜

礼拜vs拜
bài

Similar pronunciation but different meaning

礼拜vs礼
lǐ

Similar pronunciation and radical

Exercise 1 of 1

Which one

Which one means “week”?

or

Usage Notes for 礼拜

Confusing 礼拜 with other termsCommon Error

Learners often confuse 礼拜 with other terms related to time or worship, such as 星期 (week) or 崇拜 (to worship).

1

礼拜和星期的区别是什么?

What is the difference between 礼拜 and 星期?

Exercise 1 of 1

Get it right

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

____和星期的区别是什么?

What is the difference between 礼拜 and 星期?

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Cultural Notes for 礼拜

💡Did you know?

In Chinese culture, 礼拜 (li3 bai4) is often associated with weekly gatherings, especially for religious observances like church services. Different religions have specific days and traditions for worship, showing the diversity in practices across China.

📜Proverb

A common proverb related to time is '一周之计在于晨,' meaning 'The plan of the week is made in the morning.' This emphasizes the significance of planning and starting the week right.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, 'week' is a neutral term, but in Chinese, 礼拜 has strong religious connotations and is specifically linked to Christian worship.

Frequently Asked Questions about 礼拜

Yes, 礼拜 is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing the days of the week. However, its usage in the context of religious services may vary depending on the individual's beliefs or practices.

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