expression, adverb
no matter how long one waits; despite waiting a long time
Always used with a negative predicate. Expresses that something does not happen or is not achieved even after a long wait.
待てど暮らせど返事が来ない。
No matter how long I wait, no reply comes.
待てど暮らせどバスは来なかった。
The bus never came, no matter how long we waited.
Standard kanji spelling.
Variant spelling using 暮せど instead of 暮らせど; less common but attested.
待てど is a shorter form meaning 'even if one waits', but 待てど暮らせど emphasizes the passage of time more strongly by adding the idea of 'living through' the wait.
A set phrase combining the classical concessive particle ど (even though) with the verbs 待つ (wait) and 暮らす (spend time, live). Literally 'even though one waits and spends time', it emphasizes a long, fruitless wait.