On the verge of collapse or extinction; facing imminent ruin or doom.
这家老字号餐馆，由于经营不善，如今已是亡在旦夕
This old, renowned restaurant, due to poor management, is now on the verge of collapse.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
Towards the end of the Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng's rebel army laid siege to Beijing. Emperor Chongzhen staunchly defended the capital.
Li Zicheng dispatched his strategist, Song Xiancen, to infiltrate Beijing and set up a fortune-telling stall.
Chongzhen, highly superstitious, visited Song Xiancen's stall for a reading. Song Xiancen deliberately told him that his doom was imminent, literally "perishing at dawn and dusk."
Realizing the hopelessness of the situation, Chongzhen hanged himself on Jingshan the very next day.
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