Definition
生死存亡 is a four-character idiom describing a moment or situation that determines whether something lives or dies, succeeds or fails — a make-or-break crisis. Literally 'life, death, survival, perishing', it is used for existential threats to a country, company, relationship, or career. It functions like a noun phrase (often paired with 关头 'juncture') and carries a formal, literary tone.
f.e.
a critical moment of survival or destructiona make-or-break situation
Examples
- 生死存亡，。Zài zhège shēng sǐ cún wáng guāntóu, wǒmen bìxū tuánjié yízhì.At this critical moment of survival, we must unite as one.
- 生死存亡。Gōngsī de shēng sǐ cún wáng jiù qǔjué yú zhège chǎnpǐn néng bù néng chénggōng.The company's survival or destruction depends on whether this product succeeds.
- 生死存亡。Lìshǐ shàng xǔduō wángcháo de shēng sǐ cún wáng dōu yǔ zhànzhēng yǒuguān.In history, many dynasties' existential crises were related to war.
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