式 and 儀式: formal events and rituals
Learn ceremonial combinations and distinguish observing, attending, and conducting.
A formal ceremony
式, read しき, here means a formal ceremony. 式は十時に始まります。 says that the ceremony begins at ten.
Combinations such as 入学式 and 卒業式 identify the kind of ceremony. Do not read compounds with another meaning, such as 数式, as events.
A prescribed ritual
儀式, read ぎしき, is a ritual performed according to a set procedure or form. 伝統的な儀式を見学しました。 means observing a traditional ritual.
儀式を行いました。 means conducting a ritual. Distinguish it from merely observing as in 見学しました.
Attending and conducting
式に出席しました means attending a ceremony, while 式を進めました means proceeding with or conducting it. Read the verbs together with に and を to distinguish roles.
儀式の一部だけ見ました。 means seeing only part of a ritual. Do not expand that to watching it from beginning to end.
Does 伝統的な儀式を見学しました mean personally conducting the ritual?
Show the answer and why
No. It means observing it, distinct from conducting it with 行いました.