一生懸命
いっしょうけんめい very hard; with utmost effort
Why it means this
一生 (one's whole life) + 懸命 (staking one's life — from 一所懸命, defending one's one piece of land to the death) — with all one's might.
Breakdown
- 一 イチ one, one radical (no.1)
- 生 セイ life, genuine, birth
- 懸 ケン state of suspension, hang, depend
- 命 いのち fate, command, decree
Each character links to its full entry — origin story, stroke order, and readings.