生死存亡

shēngsǐcúnwáng

idiom #24,663

Meanings

1 a matter of life and death
2 survival or extinction

Characters

to exist; to survive

to perish; death

Examples

这是关系到公司生死存亡的重大决策。

Zhè shì guānxi dào gōngsī shēngsǐcúnwáng de zhòngdà juécè.

This is a crucial decision that is a matter of life and death for the company.

在生死存亡的关头，大家团结起来。

Zài shēngsǐcúnwáng de guāntóu, dàjiā tuánjié qǐlái.

At the moment of life and death, everyone united together.

Tips

memory

The four characters pair neatly as opposites: 生(live)死(die) + 存(exist)亡(perish). Together they cover all possible outcomes, reinforcing the gravity of the situation.

Stroke Order

生 shēng

死 sǐ

存 cún

亡 wáng