Chinese word

生死

Pronunciation

Pinyinshēng sǐ

Meaning

  • nounlife and death

Example

医生说，现在无法判断他的生死。yī shēng shuō xiàn zài wú fǎ pàn duàn tā de shēng sǐ

The doctor says that it is currently impossible to determine whether he is alive or dead.

Illustration for 生死 (life and death)

More examples

地震救援中，很多决定直接影响到幸存者的生死。dì zhèn jiù yuán zhōng hěn duō jué dìng zhí jiē yíng xiǎng dào xìng cún zhě de shēng sǐ

During earthquake rescue efforts, many decisions directly affect whether survivors live or die.

Core concept

An absolute boundary between continuing to live and no longer living, extending to whether something survives.

Common phrases

  • 生死存亡shēng sǐ cún wáng

    life-and-death crisis

  • 处于生死关头chǔ yú shēng sǐ guān tóu

    be at a life-and-death crossroads

  • 生死抉择shēng sǐ jué zé

    life-and-death decision

Similar words

生死关头shēng sǐ guān tóu: A decisive point at which the outcome may determine whether someone lives or dies.
死亡sǐ wáng: The state of no longer being alive after life has ended.
生存shēng cún: The condition of staying alive or continuing to exist.

Definition in Chinese

指生命的有无与存亡，常用来表示人的生与死或事物的存亡与关键时刻。zhǐ shēng mìng de yǒu wú yǔ cún wáng cháng yòng lái biǎo shì rén de shēng yú sǐ huò shì wù de cún wáng yǔ guān jiàn shí kè

Word origin

生死 (shēngsǐ, "life and death") combines 生 (shēng, "to live") and 死 (sǐ, "to die"), placing opposite states side by side to mark the full question of survival.

Usage tips

  • In ordinary conversation, this word sounds serious and suits a crisis or decisive matter more than a routine check on someone's condition.

Opposites

  • 永生yǒng shēngeternal lifenoun

Related words

  • 生死抉择shēng sǐ jué zélife-and-death decisionnoun
  • 生死存亡shēng sǐ cún wánglife-and-death crisisidiom

Word lists with this word