About
The character 鼐 is a phono-semantic compound with the semantic radical 鼎 (dǐng, tripod cauldron) at the bottom and the phonetic component 乃 (nǎi) at the top. It denotes an exceptionally large bronze cauldron, typically featuring two loop handles and three or four legs, used for cooking meat, presenting ancestral offerings, or symbolizing state power. The meaning also extends to heavy incense burners in temples or palaces, reflecting the vessel's evolution from practical cookware to a revered ceremonial object in later dynasties.
Etymology Hide
