鼐 (nài) - A large tripod cauldron used in ancient China & by extension, something large and stable.

鼐Tone 4

nài ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

娜楠

鼐 · nài

A large tripod cauldron used in ancient China for cooking sacrificial offerings;

by extension, something large and stable.

A large tripod cauldron used in ancient Chinaby extension, something large and stable.

Usage highlights

Bronze tripodLarge cauldronRitual vesselAncient tripodSacrificial cauldron

Synonyms

  • 鼎— tripod cauldron (generally smaller than 鼐)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ancient bronze tripod (青铜鼐) was used in royal ceremonies.
  • This vessel is a massive cauldron (大鼐).
  • The character appears in classical texts describing ritual bronzes (礼器之鼐).

Collocations

  • Bronze tripod(青铜鼐)
  • Large cauldron(大鼐)
  • Ritual vessel(礼鼐)
  • Ancient tripod(古鼐)
  • Sacrificial cauldron(祭鼐)

Idioms

  • The tripod stands firm(鼐立不移)
  • As steady as a great tripod(稳如巨鼐)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to large ceremonial bronze tripods used for cooking meat offerings in ancestral worship during the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
  • Symbolizes stability, grandeur, and ritual importance in ancient Chinese culture.
  • Often mentioned in classical texts alongside other ritual bronzes like ding (鼎).

FAQ