adverb taking the 'to' particle, na-adjective, noun
deserted; empty and quiet; hushed
Describes a place such as a street, shop, station, town, or lobby being quiet because few or no people are there. Very common in the pattern 閑散としている or 閑散とした.
平日の午前中、商店街は閑散としていた。
On a weekday morning, the shopping street was deserted.
閑散とした空港のロビーに、足音だけが響いていた。
In the deserted airport lobby, only footsteps echoed.
na-adjective, noun
slack; inactive; off-season; dull
Used for business, trade, markets, tourism, and similar activity being quiet or low-volume rather than physically deserted. 閑散期 is a common compound meaning an off-season or slow period.
年明けの株式市場は取引が少なく、閑散としていた。
After the New Year, the stock market was quiet, with little trading.
この旅館は冬が閑散期だ。
Winter is the slow season for this inn.
na-adjective, noun
A less common use referring to a person or situation having no work or duties. Modern everyday Japanese more often uses 暇, 手が空いている, or 何もすることがない.
退職後、彼はしばらく閑散な身だった。
After retiring, he was unoccupied for a while.