English
Pronunciation
Noun
kill line (plural kill lines)
- (China, video games) The threshold of hit points below which any damage will kill the character.
- (China, economics) The poverty threshold, below which one's income can afford to cover unexpected bills or debt without being put in financial ruin.
2026 January 19, Ma Jiahong, Chen Qi, Jiang Yu, “US 'kill line' in stark contrast to China's supportive policies”, in China Daily[1]:Furthermore, through mortgages, auto loans, student debt and medical loans, individuals are integrated into the consumption system, transforming them into vehicles for capital appreciation. However, those who fall below the critical threshold, the kill line, are abandoned by capital and excluded from the reproduction systems.