CHENGYU
九死一生(jiǔ sǐ yī shēng)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- neutral
- Source:
- 战国·楚·屈原《离骚》
MEANING
- Literal
- nine chances of dying and one of living
- Figurative meaning
- to survive by a hair; a narrow escape
ORIGIN STORY
Qu Yuan wrote in his Li Sao: "Though I should die nine deaths, I would not regret what my heart loves." Commentators read the "nine deaths" as danger where one life in ten remains — hence the modern sense of a brush with death.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“a close brush with death”
EXAMPLES
他在这场事故中九死一生。Tā zài zhè chǎng shìgù zhōng jiǔ sǐ yī shēng.HSK6
He came through the accident with nine chances of death and one of life.
经过九死一生的考验，他更珍惜生活了。Jīngguò jiǔ sǐ yī shēng de kǎoyàn, tā gèng zhēnxī shēnghuó le.HSK6
After surviving by a hair, he treasures life all the more.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: It is about surviving extreme danger — not about illness or general hardship.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01