godan verb (-u), intransitive verb
fail to die (after attempting suicide); fail to kill oneself; survive (when one should have died)
Used when someone attempts suicide but does not die, or when someone survives a situation where death was expected. Often carries a nuance of failing even at dying.
彼は自殺を図ったが、死に損なった。
He attempted suicide but failed to die.
あの事故
It's a wonder he survived that accident.
godan verb (-u), intransitive verb
come close to dying; be almost killed; narrowly escape death
Describes a near-death experience, often from an accident, illness, or dangerous situation, without necessarily implying a suicide attempt.
山で遭難して、死に損なうところだった。
I was stranded in the mountains and almost died.
大病で死に損なったが、今は元気だ。
I nearly died from a serious illness, but I'm fine now.
godan verb (-u), intransitive verb
survive (when others died); outlive others
Used when someone lives on while others around them have died, often in contexts like war, disaster, or epidemic. Can carry a sense of guilt or loneliness.
戦争で仲間はみんな死んだが、彼だけ死に損なった。
All his comrades died in the war, but he alone survived.
家族を亡くし、自分だけ死に損なったことを悔やんでいる。
Having lost his family, he regrets that he alone outlived them.