narrow escape from death; barely surviving a life-threatening situation
A yojijukugo (four-character idiom) used when someone survives a situation where death seemed almost certain. Often used in phrases like 九死一生を得る or 九死一生の思いをする.
He had a narrow escape from death in that accident.
九死一生を得て、彼は人生観が変わった。
Having barely escaped death, his outlook on life changed.