生死存亡 life or death
Explanation
指生存或死亡。形容局势或斗争已到最后关头，极其危急。
Refers to survival or death. Describes a situation or struggle that has reached a critical point and is extremely dangerous.
Origin Story
公元前495年，鲁国与邾国之间发生了战争。战争持续了数年，双方都损失惨重。最终，鲁国取得了胜利，但国力也因此衰竭，元气大伤。战争之后，鲁定公和孔子反思战争的残酷和无意义。孔子的学生子贡则认为，这次战争，让鲁国认识到自身实力的不足，同时也要吸取教训，以避免将来再次发生类似的灾难。他认为这次战争，虽然鲁国胜利了，但也是生死存亡的时刻，如果不谨慎处理，后果不堪设想。这场战争也促使了鲁国君臣的反省，使得鲁国的政治制度得到完善，社会得到稳定，走向了繁荣昌盛。
In 495 BC, a war broke out between the Kingdom of Lu and the Kingdom of Zhu. The war lasted for several years, and both sides suffered heavy losses. Eventually, Lu won, but the kingdom was weakened and suffered heavy damage. After the war, Duke Ding of Lu and Confucius reflected on the cruelty and meaninglessness of the war. Confucius's student Zigong argued that this war had shown Lu the weaknesses of its own strength and that lessons should be learned to prevent future disasters. He stressed that Lu, despite its victory, had been in a moment of survival or perishing, and the consequences would have been unimaginable if not handled with caution. This war also prompted self-reflection by the rulers and ministers of Lu, leading to improvements in Lu's political system and to the stabilization of society, which then flourished.
Usage
通常作主语、宾语、定语；多用于形容战争、斗争等极其危急的关头。
It is often used as the subject, object, or attributive; it is often used to describe the extremely dangerous juncture in wars and struggles.
Examples
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这次的项目至关重要，关系到公司的生死存亡。
zhè cì de xiàngmù zhìguān zhòngyào, guānxi dàolè gōngsī de shēngsǐ cúnwáng
This project is extremely important, relating to the life and death of the company.
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面对这场危机，我们必须背水一战，决战生死存亡。
miànduì zhè chǎng wēijī, wǒmen bìxū bèishuǐ yīzhàn, juézhàn shēngsǐ cúnwáng
Faced with this crisis, we must fight a decisive battle, deciding on life and death.