expression, godan verb (-gu)
survive; keep living; escape death
Often used when someone barely manages to stay alive, or when life is preserved against odds. Can be used literally or figuratively.
See also: 生き続ける (いきつづける)
遭難者はわずかな食料で命をつないだ。
The survivor kept himself alive on meager food.
この仕事でどうにか命をつないでいる。
I'm barely scraping by with this job.