Definition

1. Noun:
   • Life and death: Refers to the fundamental states of existence, encompassing both being alive and being dead. It often describes matters of extreme importance or urgency.
   • A matter of life and death: Used to describe a situation, problem, or issue that is of the utmost critical importance, where the stakes are survival itself.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Đây là vấn đề sinh tử của quốc gia. (This is a matter of life and death for the nation.)
  • Trong chiến tranh, họ đã cùng nhau trải qua những giây phút sinh tử. (During the war, they experienced life-and-death moments together.)
  • Anh ấy coi danh dự là vấn đề sinh tử. (He considers honor a life-and-death matter.)

Advanced Usage

• "Sinh tử bất kỳ": Life and death are unpredictable; fate is uncertain.

  • Đời người sinh tử bất kỳ, phải biết trân trọng từng ngày. (Human life and death are unpredictable; one must know how to cherish each day.)

• "Sinh tử giá thú": (Historical term) Refers to the administrative department in ancient times responsible for registering births, deaths, and marriages.

  • Công việc của bộ phận sinh tử giá thú ngày xưa rất quan trọng. (The work of the birth, death, and marriage registration department in the old days was very important.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sinh (verb/noun): To be born; to give birth; life.
  • Sinh con (To give birth)
• Tử (noun/verb): Death; to die.
  • Tử vong (Fatality, death)
• Sinh mệnh (noun): Life, lifespan.
• Tử vong (noun): Death, fatality.

Synonyms

• Sống chết: Life and death (more colloquial).
  • Đây là chuyện sống chết. (This is a life-and-death matter.)
• Sinh mạng: Life, existence (often refers to a living being's life).
• Vấn đề hệ trọng: A crucial/grave issue.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Bước đường cùng sinh tử: A path of shared life and death; going through extreme hardship together.
  • Họ là bạn đồng hành trên bước đường cùng sinh tử. (They are companions on a path of shared life and death.)
• Sinh ly tử biệt: The sorrow of separation in life and death; a heart-wrenching, permanent separation.
  • Chiến tranh gây ra bao cảnh sinh ly tử biệt. (War causes so many scenes of heartbreaking separation.)

noun

1. life and death