bury

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 葬 is read そう, has 12 strokes, and relates to funerals or burial.
• Basic usage: 葬式 is read そうしき, and 葬儀 is read そうぎ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 葬式 and 葬儀
  • 葬式 means funeral and is the common everyday term.
  • 叔父の葬式に参列するため故郷へ戻った。 means “I returned to my hometown to attend my uncle's funeral.”
  • 葬儀 means funeral and refers more formally to the ceremony and its procedures.
  • 親族だけで静かな葬儀を執り行った。 means “We held a quiet funeral attended only by relatives.”