鼎足而三 Three-legged tripod
Explanation
比喻三方面对立的局势。也泛指三个方面。
It is a metaphor for a situation where three forces are in a stalemate. It can also refer to three aspects in general.
Origin Story
话说战国时期，楚汉相争，天下大乱。刘邦、项羽、英布，这三方势力，各自拥兵自重，谁也不肯服谁，便形成了鼎足而三的局面。刘邦凭借其强大的军事实力和战略眼光，逐步削弱了项羽和英布的力量，最终统一了天下。这个故事告诉我们，虽然鼎足而三的局面看似均衡，但其中暗藏着巨大的变数，最终谁能胜出，取决于自身的综合实力和应对变局的能力。 后来项羽和刘邦继续争夺天下，最终刘邦胜出，建立了汉朝。但是，英布并没有就此罢休，而是趁机起兵造反，与刘邦展开了激烈的对抗。经过多次大战，刘邦最终平定了英布的叛乱，彻底结束了乱世，统一了全国。 这段历史也告诉我们，即使是强如项羽这样的英雄人物，在面对复杂的局势时，也可能因为战略失误或轻敌而失败。要想在乱世中取得成功，必须具备过人的智慧、勇猛的胆识和强大的实力。
During the Warring States period, Liu Bang, Xiang Yu, and Ying Bu were three major forces vying for dominance. Their rivalry created a stalemate, a three-way standoff known as “dingzu er san”. Despite initial balance, Liu Bang, with his superior strategy and military strength, gradually weakened his rivals and ultimately unified China. This illustrates that while a three-way balance might appear stable, inherent volatility exists, and success ultimately depends on comprehensive strength and adaptability.
Usage
用于比喻三方势力对峙的局面，也可泛指三个方面。
Used to describe a stalemate between three forces; can also generally refer to three aspects.
Examples
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三国时期，魏蜀吴三国鼎足而立，形成对峙局面。
sanguoshiqi, wei shuwu sanguo dingzu erli, xingcheng duizhi ju mian.
During the Three Kingdoms period, Wei, Shu, and Wu stood in a stalemate, forming a three-way standoff.
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如今这三个公司在市场上鼎足而三，竞争异常激烈。
rujin zhe san ge gongsi zai shichang shang dingzu er san, jingzheng yichang jilie
Today, these three companies are neck and neck in the market, competing fiercely with each other.