鍋

• Reading: なべ
• Romaji: nabe
• Kanji breakdown: 鍋 (ka/nabe) — pot, pan
• Pronunciation: /na.be/

Meaning

A pot or saucepan; also refers to hot pot dishes cooked and served in such a pot.

A noun with two main uses: the cooking vessel itself (pot, saucepan) and the communal hot pot dish central to Japanese cuisine. Types include すき焼き鍋 (sukiyaki nabe), しゃぶしゃぶ鍋 (shabu-shabu nabe), and キムチ鍋 (kimchi nabe). Nabe parties are a popular winter social activity in Japan where friends gather around a shared pot.

Examples

1. 大きな鍋でカレーを作った。 I made curry in a big pot.
2. 冬は友達と鍋を囲むのが楽しい。 In winter, it's fun to gather around a hot pot with friends.
3. この鍋はもう古いから新しいのを買おう。 This pot is old, so let's buy a new one.

Usage Guide

Context: cooking, dining, winter activities

Tone: warm

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 鍋 combines 金 (metal) and 咼 (a phonetic element), indicating a metal cooking vessel.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal