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Both words mean "ceremony". What is the difference in meaning and usage
between them? Given that the latter term is formed by two kanji, I would
assume that it has a more formal tone than the former, but it's a very weak
guess.

UPDATE for context, I came across the word in the following sentence:

> 皇室の結婚式場の儀式は昔から伝わる伝統的なもので、男性は「束帯」女性は「十二単」と呼ばれる特別な着物を着て行われます
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question
synonyms
What is the difference between 式 and 儀式?
儀式 is more like "ritual" and typically refers to something associated with
religion or indigenous beliefs. Some 儀式 to call rain or curse someone may be
done alone. Events held in developed countries in connection with things like
graduations, inductions, and awarding are normally called 式 or 式典. For
example, 入社式 is a common event held in any big company, but 入社の儀式 sounds like
you're entering a cult or a crime syndicate, and you may even be told to offer
your blood or have a special tattoo.

Things like a Christian wedding ceremony or Pope's coronation ceremony can be
called both 儀式 and 式/式典, but 儀式 sounds more religious or "ritualistic".
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[This thesaurus entry](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/thsrs/10098/meaning/m0u/)
says:

> １「式」は、一定の形式で行われる改まった行事を、規模の大小にかかわらずいう。また、特に結婚式をさすこともある。
>
> ２「儀式」は、式のときに行われる具体的な作法をさす。

式 emphasizes the aspect of _event_ while 儀式 refers to what happens during a 式
following a defined procedure (or the procedure/protocol itself).

Most _ceremonies_ like wedding or graduation assume some general agenda, but
it is not considered as a protocol. So those are generally 結婚式, 卒業式 etc.

On the other hand, an exchange of rings or [drinking Sake in a specific
way](https://tanoshiiosake.jp/9779) (in traditional Shito style weddings) can
be called a 儀式.

Borderline cases are those that are extremely solemn like inheriting a throne
or abdication, which I assume require a very specific procedure. These
ceremonies themselves are definitely 式(典), but could be called 儀式 as well.

* * *

I'm not at all familiar, but as another example, _communion_ can be a 式 as an
event, but the act of receiving the bread is definitely a 儀式.
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