【析形】形声字。甲骨文、金文字形从壴(鼓),从二玉,会击鼓奉玉以事神致福之意,隶定即豊。小篆字形加意符“示”,与“豊”分化。 【释义】《说文》:“履也,所以事神致福也。”本义是敬神,古代有以玉祭祀的习俗。祭祀活动有严格的程序和等级规矩,故引申指社会生活中由于风俗习惯而形成的行为准则、道德规范和各种礼节。《左传·隐公十一年》:“礼,经国家,定社稷,序民人,利后嗣者也。”由此引申为以礼待人,礼貌,礼品等义。[礼尚往来]指在礼节上注重有来有往,借指用对方礼待自己的态度和方式去礼待对方。[礼贤下士]指降低身份去敬重、结交身份比自己低而有才识的人。 中国古代社会中作为伦理道德的“礼”含义广泛,具体内容包括孝、慈、恭、顺、敬、和、仁、义等等。 【shape analysis】It is the pictophonetic character.In Oracle and Bronze Inscriptions,the character was formed by 壴(zhù,drum)on and two 玉(yù,jade),meaning beating a drum and presenting jade to gods for blessings.In Official script,the character was developed into 豊(lǐ)while in Small Seal script it was added 示(shì,offering sacrifices to gods). 【original meaning】Offering sacrifices to gods.There was a custom of offering jade to gods in ancient times.