What does the phrase “Half Dead, Half Alive” Mean in Chinese?

This phrase is often used to describe something fierce. It literally means “to be half dead and half alive”, hovering between life and death.

Examples

我胃疼，病得死去活来。
Wǒ wèi téng, bìng dé sǐqùhuólái.
I’m having a stomach ache, I feel terrible.

他们爱得死去活来的。
Tāmen ài de sǐqù huólái de.
They love each other so much.

Your Turn to Practice 死去活来

Now it’s your turn! Make a phrase or sentence with the phrase 死去活来, and leave it in the comments below. You’ll get a chance to practice, and we will reply to you with valuable language feedback 👇