Definition
问鼎 is a formal or literary verb-object phrase meaning 'to contend for the top position' — originally from the historical story of someone asking about the weight of the Nine Tripod Cauldrons (symbols of imperial power), implying ambition for the throne. Today it's used in sports and competitions to mean 'compete for the championship' or 'seek first place'. Because it's a separable verb (离合词), you can insert elements between 问 and 鼎, such as 问过鼎 ('has competed for the top') or 问了鼎 ('competed for the championship').
v.o.
to compete for the championshipto contend for first place(literary) to covet the throneto seek supreme power
Examples
- 问鼎。Zhè zhī qiúduì jīnnián yǒu wàng wèn dǐng.This team has a chance to compete for the championship this year.
- 问鼎，。Tā zài Àoyùnhuì shàng chénggōng wèn dǐng, yíngdé le jīnpái.He successfully contended for the top spot at the Olympics and won the gold medal.
- 。Lìshǐ shàng zhǐyǒu shǎoshù rén wèn guò dǐng.In history, only a few people have ever sought the throne.
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