half-dead; near death
Describes a state of being barely alive, often used in expressions like 半死半生 (half-dead, half-alive) or after extreme exhaustion or injury.
He was taken to the hospital half-dead after the accident.
I'm half-dead from pulling all-nighters.
half-dead; more dead than alive
Compound of 半 (half) and 死 (death). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the meaning is transparent from the kanji.