七死八活

Explanation: Like many tough battle in general. Describe the human suffering. 　　Usage: Joint type; as adverbial; describe the pain or near death throughout 　　Source: Yuan Wang Shih-fu, "The West Chamber" the third off the second: "Who miles you cajole, you get to the hungry, the seven dead eight live, how have to?" 　　Examples: If not human, this wreck was seven hundred and eight dead live. (Ming Shinai "Tales of" Di Jiuhui)