Three different things
In Chinese idioms, Pinyin is s ā Nb ā NLI ǎ ngy à ng, which means multiple, also means playing tricks. From Zhu Zi Yu Lei.
The origin of Idioms
Zhu Xi's Zhu Zi Yu Lei of the Song Dynasty, Volume 67: "there is only one truth in the world, let alone three different views."
Idiom usage
Chapter 60 of Cao Xueqin's a dream of Red Mansions in the Qing Dynasty: "all the little fans in the opera weigh people's weight.
Three different things
The power of nine oxen and two tigers - jiǔ niú èr hǔ zhī lì
blow on an instrument or finger a stringed instrument - pǐn zhú tiáo sī
The birds are startled by the fish - niǎo jīng yú hài