taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
dreary; dismal; lonely; mournful
Literary and somewhat archaic adjective describing a desolate, lonely, or melancholy atmosphere, often of wind, rain, or a scene. Used with 〜たる or 〜と.
A dreary autumn rain continues to fall.
I can hear the mournful sound of the wind.
Alternate literary kanji spelling without the repetition mark. Even rarer than 蕭々.
The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 蕭 originally refers to a type of plant (wormwood) and by extension came to suggest desolation or a mournful rustling sound. The reduplicated form 蕭々 is a classical Chinese-derived literary expression.