How to Say "Survive" in Japanese

生き残る

ikinokoru[ikʲino̞ko̞ɾɯ̟]

To survive in Japanese is 生き残る (ikinokoru).

This verb is used to describe living past a life-threatening event.

Meaning: live past a life-threatening event (verb)

How does it change in a sentence?

The past tense is formed by replacing the dictionary form ending with the suffix た (ta), resulting in 生き残った (survived).

ikinokoru

Japanese uses the expression 九死に一生を得る (kyūshi ni isshō o eru), which literally means 'to obtain one life out of nine deaths'.
In many Japanese games or movies, a 'survivor' is referred to as a サバイバー (sabaibā), using the English loanword, whereas 生き残り feels more literary or dramatic.
The verb 生き残る is composed of two verbs: 生きる (to live) and 残る (to remain), literally meaning 'to remain living'.

強いものだけが生き残る。
Only the strong survive.
This sentence is useful for showing how to use 生き残る in a proverb about strength.
Tatoeba #9853716 by small_snow, translation #9853710 by CK
理論がそのような試練にたえて生き残るのは難しい。
It is difficult for a theory to survive such a test.
This sentence is useful for demonstrating the use of 生き残る in a more abstract context regarding a theory surviving a test.
Tatoeba #78362 by mookeee, translation #325354 by Jesse
日本への移住は大変ですが、私たちは必死に生き延びます。
Moving to Japan is tough, but we will survive by any means necessary.
地震の後でも、人々は生き延びるために団結しました。
Even after the earthquake, people united to survive.
経済的に厳しい状況でも、何とか生きていきます。
Even in difficult economic situations, I'll manage to survive somehow.
今の仕事は辛いけど、なんとか生きていかないと。
The current job is tough, but I have to find a way to survive.

Talking about a movie where a character survives a disaster.

大翔 Hiroto

主人公は最後まで生き残るかな？
Shujinkou wa saigo made ikinokoru kana?
I wonder if the protagonist will survive until the end?
陽葵 Himari

きっと生き残ると思うよ。
Kitto ikinokoru to omou yo.
I think they will definitely survive.
大翔 Hiroto

そうだといいな。
Sou da to ii na.
I hope so.
陽葵 Himari

この映画はハッピーエンドだろうしね。
Kono eiga wa happii endo darou shi ne.
After all, this movie probably has a happy ending.

Sources

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