Korean word

구사일생

Pronunciation

Romanizationkusailsaeng

Meaning

  • nounnarrow escape

Example

밤길에서 구사일생으로 집에 도착했다.pam gi re seo ku sa il saeng eu ro chi be to cha kaet tta

I got home after a narrow escape on a dark road.

Illustration for 구사일생 (narrow escape)

More examples

수술 도중 합병증이 생겼지만 구사일생으로 회복했다.su sul to jung hap ppyeong jeung i saeng gyeot jji man ku sa il saeng eu ro hoe bo kaet tta

A complication developed during surgery, but I recovered after narrowly escaping death.

Core concept

Surviving a life-threatening situation by the narrowest margin.

Common phrases

  • 구사일생으로 목숨을 건지다ku sa il saeng eu ro mok ssu meul keon ji da

    narrowly escape death

Similar words

간신히 살아남음kansinhi saranameum: The state of surviving a deadly danger by a very small margin.
목숨을 구함mokssumeul kuham: The saving of a life from a danger that could cause death.

Definition in Korean

거의 죽을 뻔하다가 간신히 목숨을 건지거나 살아남음을 이르는 말keo ui chu geul ppeon ha da ga kan sin hi mok ssu meul keon ji geo na sa ra na meu meul i reu neun mal

Word origin

구사일생 (gusailsaeng, "narrow escape") comes from a Sino-Korean expression built on the image of facing nine deaths but finding one chance to live.

Usage tips

  • This word is much stronger than simply getting lucky, so it suits a serious accident or other danger to life rather than a small mistake.

Opposites

Word lists with this word