明け暮れ

• Reading: あけくれ
• Romaji: akekure
• Kanji breakdown: 明 (ake) — dawn, brightening; 暮 (kure) — dusk, day's end
• Pronunciation: /a.ke.kɯ.ɾe/

Meaning

Dawn and dusk; day and night; all day long. Spending all one's time devoted to something.

A noun meaning the span from morning to evening, i.e., all day. Often used in the pattern 〜に明け暮れる (to spend all one's time doing), expressing total immersion in an activity. Carries a literary nuance suggesting both dedication and the passage of time.

Examples

1. 受験勉強に明け暮れた一年間を振り返ると、感慨深い。 Looking back on the year I spent day and night studying for entrance exams, I'm deeply moved.
2. 彼は若い頃、音楽の練習に明け暮れていた。 When he was young, he devoted himself to practicing music all day long.
3. 明け暮れ働き続けた結果、体を壊してしまった。 Working around the clock without rest eventually ruined his health.

Usage Guide

Context: dedication, time, daily routine, reminiscence

Tone: reflective

Origin & History

Native Japanese compound: 明け (dawn, from 明ける — to dawn) + 暮れ (dusk, from 暮れる — to grow dark). The pairing of opposites implies the full span of a day.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical-Modern

Generation: Adult

Social background: Universal