taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
dark; gloomy; somber; depressing
Describes a situation, mood, or prospect that is bleak, hopeless, or deeply discouraging. Often used in literary or formal contexts. Functions as a taru-adjective (〜たる) or adverbially with と.
The country's future was bleak because of the war.
He hung his head with a gloomy expression.
Standard kanji form. The second kanji 澹 is not a Jōyō kanji, so the word is sometimes written with kana as 暗たん.
Common mixed kanji-kana spelling, especially in modern writing, because 澹 is not a Jōyō kanji.
Variant kanji form using 憺 instead of 澹. Rarely used.
From Chinese 暗澹 (àndàn), meaning 'dim' or 'gloomy'. The Japanese reading is on'yomi. The second character 澹 is rare in modern Japanese and is sometimes replaced by kana.