noun
Refers to the boundary or matters of life and death. Often used in serious contexts such as survival, fate, or critical situations.
See also: 生死 (せいし)
生き死にの問題だから、慎重に判断しなければならない。
It's a matter of life and death, so we must judge carefully.
戦場では、生き
On the battlefield, life and death are separated by a thin line.
Same meaning but the standard kanji reading. 生き死に is the native Japanese reading with okurigana, often felt as more concrete or emotional.
Compound of 生き (iki, 'living') + 死に (shini, 'dying'), both continuative forms of verbs 生きる and 死ぬ.