三足鼎立 three-legged stand
Explanation
“三足鼎立”比喻三方势力相互对峙，谁也无法战胜对方，形成一种稳定的平衡状态。它源于古代青铜器“鼎”的构造，鼎通常有三只足，支撑着整个鼎的稳定，如果只有一只足或两只足，鼎就会失去平衡，无法稳固地立住。
“Three-legged stand” is a metaphor for three forces that are in a standoff with each other, none of them able to defeat the other, creating a stable state of balance. It originates from the construction of the ancient bronze vessel “ding”. Ding usually has three legs, which support the stability of the whole ding. If there is only one leg or two legs, the ding will lose its balance and cannot stand firmly.
Origin Story
话说东汉末年，天下大乱，群雄并起。曹操挟天子以令诸侯，实力雄厚，占据北方，志在统一天下。孙权雄踞江东，兵精粮足，坐镇东南，虎视眈眈。刘备初起，势力薄弱，却有诸葛亮辅佐，谋略过人，逐渐在荆州站稳了脚跟。三方势力相互对峙，谁也奈何不了谁，形成了一种“三足鼎立”的局面。曹操多次征伐孙权和刘备，但都未能取胜，最终败走赤壁。孙权和刘备也无力彻底消灭对方，最终三国形成各自割据的态势，史称“三国鼎立”。
It is said that in the late Han Dynasty, China fell into great turmoil, and various rulers emerged. Cao Cao, holding the emperor hostage, possessed strong power and controlled the north, aiming to unify the entire empire. Sun Quan, who ruled over Jiangdong, had a strong army and abundant supplies and kept watch in the southeast, always on guard. Liu Bei, who had recently risen, was weak, but he had the clever advisor Zhuge Liang by his side, whose strategy was exceptional. He gradually consolidated his position in Jingzhou. The three powers stood against each other, none able to defeat the other, and a situation of
Usage
这个成语可以用来形容三方势力相互抗衡，谁也无法彻底战胜对方，形成一种平衡的局面。例如，在国际关系中，三个大国互相制衡，就形成了三足鼎立的局面。
This idiom can be used to describe three forces that are in a standoff with each other, none of them able to completely defeat the other, creating a balanced situation. For example, in international relations, three major powers balance each other, forming a three-legged stand.
Examples
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三国时期，魏蜀吴三国鼎足而立，形成一种微妙的平衡。
san guo shi qi, wei shu wu san guo ding zu er li, xing cheng yi zhong wei miao de ping heng.
During the Three Kingdoms period, Wei, Shu, and Wu stood in a three-way standoff, creating a delicate balance.
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如今的市场竞争激烈，各种品牌三足鼎立，谁也无法独占鳌头。
ru jin de shi chang jing zheng ji lie, ge zhong pin pai san zu ding li, shui ye wu fa du zhan ao tou
The current market competition is fierce, with various brands in a three-way standoff, none of them able to dominate.