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たけなわ Japanese meaning | Kotomora

たけなわ

た

け

な

わ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

noun, na-adjective

height; peak; full swing

usually written using kana alone

Describes the peak or most active stage of an event, season, or situation. Often used in phrases like 〜のたけなわ or 〜もたけなわ.

夏なつもたけなわですね。
Summer is at its height, isn't it?
パーティーがたけなわのときに、彼かれは帰かえってしまった。
He left when the party was in full swing.

Written forms

たけなわUsage89%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 酣 and 闌 are rare.
酣たけなわUsage8%
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.
闌たけなわUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Kanji

酣height of, thick of, full swing

闌rise high, be well along

Similar words

真まっ最さい中ちゅう
真っ最中 is more colloquial and directly means 'in the middle of', while たけなわ emphasizes the peak or climax of an ongoing situation.
最さい盛せい期き
最盛期 is a more formal term for 'peak period' or 'heyday', often used for historical or business contexts, whereas たけなわ is more literary and seasonal.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to classical Japanese たけ (height, peak) and なわ (possibly a suffix), but the exact derivation is unclear.