鼎立 (dǐng lì) — (formal) tripartite balance of forces; three-way standoff

Definition

A formal noun for a three-way standoff where three powers are equally balanced. Always appears in set phrases like 三国鼎立 or 鼎立之势 — never used for other numbers.

noun
(formal) tripartite balance of forcesthree-way standoff

Examples

  • 鼎立。
    Sān guó dǐng lì de jú miàn chí xù le shù shí nián.
    The tripartite balance of the Three Kingdoms lasted for decades.
  • 鼎立。
    Zhè sān jiā gōng sī xíng chéng le dǐng lì zhī shì.
    These three companies formed a tripartite balance of power.
  • ，鼎立。
    Lì shǐ shàng, sān guó dǐng lì shì zuì zhù míng de lì zi.
    In history, the tripartite balance of the Three Kingdoms is the most famous example.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

鼎dǐngtripod
立lìstand

鼎 is a three-legged vessel and 立 means stand, so 鼎立 pictures three forces standing like a tripod.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 鼎 is a picture of an ancient bronze tripod cauldron, a vessel with three legs used for cooking or ritual.

Open 鼎 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

立 pictures a person standing on the ground.

Open 立 →

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