We investigate trions, paired states and quantum phase transitions in one-dimensional SU(3) attractive fermions in external fields by means of the Bethe ansatz formalism. Analytical results for the ground state energy, critical fields and complete phase diagrams are obtained for the weak coupling regime. Higher-order corrections for these physical quantities are presented in the strong attractive regime. Numerical solutions of the dressed energy equations allow us to examine how the different phase boundaries are modified by varying the inter-component coupling throughout the whole attractive regime. The pure trionic phase existing in the strong coupling regime decreases smoothly with a decrease in this coupling, until the weak limit is reached. In this weak regime, a pure Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS)-like paired phase can be sustained under certain nonlinear Zeeman splittings.