命悬一线 hanging by a thread
Explanation
形容情况危急，危险到了极点。
describes an extremely dangerous situation where the danger has reached its peak.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，一位名叫李白的诗人，因得罪权贵而被贬官到偏远之地。一次，他乘船夜航，忽遇暴风雨，船体摇晃剧烈，随时可能倾覆。李白此时身陷险境，风雨如刀，船如叶片般飘摇，仿佛随时都可能沉没。李白心中惊恐万分，他紧握船舷，在惊涛骇浪中，他感受到自己似乎命悬一线，随时都可能被无情的波涛吞噬。然而，他并没有绝望，凭借着顽强的意志和过人的胆识，他顽强地与暴风雨搏斗，最终平安地到达了目的地，躲过了这场生死攸关的灾难。
During the Tang Dynasty, a poet named Li Bai was demoted to a remote area for offending powerful officials. One night, while sailing, he encountered a violent storm. The ship rocked violently, threatening to capsize at any moment. Li Bai found himself in perilous circumstances, the wind and rain like knives, the ship swaying like a leaf, as if about to sink at any moment. Li Bai was terrified, but he held firmly to the ship's railing. In the midst of the raging storm, he felt his life hanging by a thread, about to be swallowed by the merciless waves. However, he didn't despair. With his strong will and courage, he fought against the storm and finally arrived safely at his destination, escaping this life-threatening disaster.
Usage
用于形容人或事物处于极其危险的状态，几乎丧失生命或失去机会。
Used to describe a person or thing in an extremely dangerous state, almost losing their life or missing an opportunity.
Examples
-
他得了重病，命悬一线。
tā déle zhòngbìng, mìngxuán yīxiàn.
He was seriously ill and hung by a thread.
-
经过医生的全力抢救，病人终于脱离了危险，转危为安，没有再命悬一线了。
jīngguò yīshēng de quánlì qiǎngjiù, bìngrén zhōngyú tuōlíle wēixiǎn, zhuǎnwēi wéi'ān, méiyǒu zài mìngxuán yīxiàn le。
After intensive treatment by the doctors, the patient is out of danger and no longer in a life-threatening condition.