鼎足之勢(shì)dǐng zú zhī shìa situation dominated by three powerful rivals; a situation of tripartite confrontation; triangular balance of power; tripartite balance of forces
? 有我荊州，乃四沖用武之地，保守?zé)o虞，分天下為鼎足之形。(《關(guān)漢卿戲劇集·關(guān)大王獨(dú)赴單刀會(huì)》 235) Formerly we controlled the strategic province of Jingzhou,and by holding it securely kept the empire divided into three. 鼎足之勢(shì)dǐnɡ zú zhī shì鼎：指古代的炊具，一般為圓形，三足兩耳。比喻三方面分離的局勢(shì)。a situation of triparitie confrontation, triangular balance of power, tripartite balance of forces |