鼎 meaning and stroke order
Large, three-legged bronze cauldron
How to write 鼎, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 3
- 4
- 5
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- 9
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- 12
Meaning of 鼎
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- ancient cooking cauldron with two looped handles and three or four legs
- pot (dialect)
- to enter upon a period of (classical)
- Kangxi radical 206
- one of the 64 hexagrams of the Book of Changes
How 鼎 is built
Pictographic character. A cauldron on its bronze tripod.
How to remember 鼎
鼎 is a picture of a cauldron on its bronze tripod. The 目 shape on top is the round pot body, and the strokes below are its legs standing on the ground.
Today 鼎 appears mostly in set phrases and formal writing, where it suggests weight, stability, or fame. The most common word is 大名鼎鼎 (dàmíng-dǐngdǐng), used for someone very well known: 他是大名鼎鼎的作家。(Tā shì dàmíng-dǐngdǐng de zuòjiā.) He is a famous writer.
Common mistake: Learners often write the top as 日 or forget that the lower part splits into two sides, like legs, rather than closing into a box. In 大名鼎鼎, keep both 鼎 in third tone. In normal speech the first one shifts toward second tone (dǐng becomes díng) before the second dǐng.
Common words with 鼎
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 大名鼎鼎 | dàmíng-dǐngdǐng | grand reputation; renowned | HSK 7-9 |
鼎 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 鼎
How many strokes are in 鼎?
鼎 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 鼎 mean?
鼎 (dǐng) means large, three-legged bronze cauldron. A common word with it is 大名鼎鼎 (dàmíng-dǐngdǐng), meaning "grand reputation; renowned".
How do you pronounce 鼎?
鼎 is pronounced dǐng, in the third tone (dipping).
Is 鼎 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 鼎 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 三足鼎立 mean?
三足鼎立 (sān zú dǐng lì) means three powers standing like the three legs of a cauldron, a balanced three-way split. It is often used for the Three Kingdoms period or for three rival companies.
Why is 鼎 a symbol of power in Chinese culture?
Bronze cauldrons were used in ancient rituals, and owning them showed rank and authority. Because of this, phrases with 鼎 often suggest strength, stability, or importance, as in 一言九鼎 (yì yán jiǔ dǐng), words that carry great weight.