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鼎 (dǐng) — (noun) ancient bronze tripod cauldron, used for cooking and ritual; (noun) a metaphorical symbol of power, authority, or the state (e.g., 问鼎, 鼎盛); (proper noun) Ding, a Chinese surname

Definition

An ancient bronze tripod cauldron used in ritual and cooking; also a literary symbol of state power (as in 问鼎, 鼎盛). 座 is the typical measure word.

noun
ancient bronze tripod cauldronused for cooking and rituala metaphorical symbol of powerauthorityor the state (e.g., 问鼎, 鼎盛)(proper noun) Dinga Chinese surname
Measure word · 座

Examples

  • 鼎。
    Bó wù guǎn lǐ chén liè zhe yí jiàn shāng dài de qīng tóng dǐng.
    The museum displays a Shang-dynasty bronze tripod cauldron.
  • ，鼎。
    Zài gǔ dài, dǐng xiàng zhēng zhe quán lì hé dì wèi.
    In ancient times, the tripod symbolized power and status.
  • 鼎。
    dǐng Xiān sheng shì wǒ men gōng sī de fǎ lǜ gù wèn.
    Mr. Ding is the legal counsel of our company.

Origin

Pictograph
六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíng

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 鼎 is a picture of an ancient bronze tripod cauldron, a vessel with three legs used for cooking or ritual.

Appears in
HistoryKitchenware & Tableware

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