鼎かなえ

noun

three-legged bronze vessel; ancient Chinese tripod cauldron

Historical term referring to a specific type of ancient Chinese ritual bronze vessel with three legs. In Japanese, it is often encountered in historical or cultural contexts, and the word is also used metaphorically in expressions like 鼎の軽重を問う (to question someone's authority or ability).

• 博はく物ぶつ館かんで古こ代だい中ちゅう国ごくの鼎かなえを見みた。

  I saw an ancient Chinese tripod vessel at the museum.

• 鼎かなえの軽けい重ちょうを問とうとは、その人ひとの力りき量りょうを疑うたがうことだ。

  To question the weight of a tripod means to doubt someone's ability.