also: じゃくじゃく · さびさび
taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
Literary, old-fashioned word describing a deeply quiet, lonely, and melancholic atmosphere. Often used in classical or poetic contexts with the adverbial form 〜として.
古寺の庭は寂々として、ただ風の音だけが聞こえた。
The old temple garden was desolate, with only the sound of the wind audible.
彼は寂々とした面持ちで、遠くを見つめていた。
He gazed into the distance with a lonesome expression.
Variant without iteration mark for the さびさび reading.
Reduplication of 寂 (seki/jaku/sabi), a kanji associated with loneliness and quiet. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the form is used in classical Japanese literature.