惘もう々もう

also: ぼうぼう

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う

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Meanings

Describes a state of being emotionally empty, dazed, or lacking energy, often due to despair or shock. Literary and somewhat rare; commonly used with とする or した様子.

彼かれは失しつ恋れんして惘もう々もうと窓まどの外そとを見みつめていた。
Heartbroken, he stared vacantly out the window.
茫ぼう然ぜん自じ失しつの体ていで、惘もう々もうとした様よう子すだった。
He was in a state of stunned bewilderment, looking completely listless.

Kanji

惘unclear, be astonished

Related words

茫ぼう然ぜん
茫然 (ぼうぜん) also means 'dazed' or 'vacant', but is more common and often implies a stronger sense of shock or being at a loss. 惘々 is more literary and emphasizes emotional emptiness or listlessness.

Written forms

惘々
- もうもう
  Literary kanji form; the character 惘 is uncommon and may not display on all devices. The reading もうもう is standard for this spelling.
- ぼうぼう
  Alternate reading ぼうぼう is less common but recorded in some sources.
ぼうぼうUsage100%
Kana spelling for the alternate reading ぼうぼう; included for search coverage.
惘惘
- もうもう
  Variant kanji form without iteration mark; same reading and meaning as 惘々.
- ぼうぼう
  Variant kanji form with alternate reading ぼうぼう.

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 惘 means 'disconcerted' or 'dejected', and the reduplicated form 惘々 follows a pattern seen in mimetic or adverbial expressions. It is likely a literary coinage rather than a word with a clear historical origin.