存亡(そんぼう)

そんぼう
noun
existence; life or death; survival
1. existence; survival; life or death
Whether something will continue to exist or perish; a matter of survival.
会社(かいしゃ)の存亡(そんぼう)がかかっている。
The survival of the company is at stake.
国家(こっか)の存亡(そんぼう)に関(かか)わる問題(もんだい)だ。
It's a matter concerning the nation's survival.
存亡(そんぼう)の危機(きき)に立(た)たされる。
To face a crisis of survival.

存亡(そんぼう) refers to a matter of survival - whether something will continue to exist or perish. Used in dramatic or critical situations.

WORD FORMATION:
存(そん) (exist) + 亡(ぼう) (perish) = existence vs. destruction

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 存亡(そんぼう)の危機(きき): crisis threatening survival
  • 存亡(そんぼう)がかかっている: survival is at stake
  • 存亡(そんぼう)に関(かか)わる: concerning survival
  • 存亡(そんぼう)の瀬戸際(せとぎわ): on the brink of survival

TYPICAL CONTEXTS:

  • 会社(かいしゃ)の存亡(そんぼう): company's survival
  • 国家(こっか)の存亡(そんぼう): nation's survival
  • 組織(そしき)の存亡(そんぼう): organization's survival

REGISTER:
Formal/literary. Used in serious contexts about critical situations.

general
Added 2026.1.16 17:12 · Revised 2026.2.4 14:08
05500/05570_sonbou