noun
Used as a noun referring to the act of dying or the state of death. Often appears in compounds or set phrases, and is the antonym of 生き (living).
Antonyms: 生き
死に直面したとき、人は本当の自分を知る。
When faced with death, a person comes to know their true self.
彼は死に場所を求めて旅に出た。
He set out on a journey in search of a place to die.
noun, used as a prefix
Used as a prefix (noun-prefix) to mean 'dead' or metaphorically 'useless, lifeless'. Common in compounds like 死に体 (dead body; losing posture in sumo) or 死に金 (dead money, wasted money).
死に金を使うより、将来のために貯金したほうがいい。
Rather than spending money wastefully, it's better to save for the future.
あの選手はもう死に体で、勝負にならなかった
prefix
Used as a prefix to express strong contempt or frustration, similar to 'damned' or 'bloody'. Often attached to nouns in colloquial, emphatic speech. This usage is somewhat dated or rough.
死に恥をさらすくらいなら、潔く辞める。
I'd rather quit gracefully than expose myself to such damned shame.
こんな死に場所で終わりたくない。
I don't want to end up in a godforsaken place like this.
That player was already a dead man walking and couldn't put up a fight.