1.
to narrowly escape death; to survive by a thread
To barely survive a life-threatening situation such as an accident, illness, or disaster. Implies that death was very close but was narrowly avoided.
手術で一命を取り留めた。
Surgery saved his life.
事故は大きかったが、運転手は一命を取り留めた。
The accident was serious, but the driver survived.
救急隊員の迅速な対応のおかげで、被害者は一命を取り留めることができた。
Thanks to the emergency team's swift response, the victim was able to narrowly escape death.
Composed of 一命 (one's life) + を + 取り留める (to hold on to, to retain). A set expression meaning to survive a critical situation. Very common in news reports about accidents, disasters, and medical emergencies.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 一命を取り留めた: survived (past tense, most common form)
- かろうじて一命を取り留めた: barely survived
- 一命は取り留めたものの…: survived but…
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 九死に一生を得る: to have a narrow escape from death — a more dramatic idiom
- 命拾いをする: to have a lucky escape — slightly more casual
- 危機一髪で助かる: to be saved by a hair's breadth — emphasizes the closeness of the danger
REGISTER:
Common in written language, news reporting, and formal speech. In casual conversation, people might say 助かった (was saved) or 命が助かった instead.