Usage patterns 堂々どうどう とした 〈 事こと〉 〉 a dignified, confident (attitude, manner, etc.)
He faced the interview with a dignified, confident manner.
堂々どうどう と 主張しゅちょう する to state one's opinion openly and without hesitation
He openly and confidently stated his own opinion.
堂々どうどう たる 〈 物もの〉 〉 an imposing, grand (build, appearance, etc.)
He has an imposing physique.
堂々どうどう と 戦たたか う to fight fair and square, without trickery
Both teams fought fairly to the very end.
堂々どうどう と 胸むね を 張は る to proudly stand tall with confidence
She stood proudly on the podium, chest held high.
堂々どうどう と 振ふ る 舞ま う to behave openly and without shame
He behaves confidently and openly in any situation.
Related words· 6 立派 praises admirable quality or splendor in a thing or person, while 堂々 focuses on a dignified, imposing presence or confident bearing.
大胆 means bold or daring with a nuance of fearlessness, while 堂々 in its second sense stresses acting openly and without shame rather than taking risks.
公然 simply means done openly/publicly, while 堂々 adds a nuance of confidence or lack of shame in that openness.
堂々 describes an imposing, self-assured presence or manner, whereas 颯爽 adds a specific sense of brisk, stylish movement.
Show 2 more Show fewer 堂々 describes an imposing, self-assured presence, while 毅然 focuses specifically on firmness against difficulty.
堂々 stresses a bold, unashamed, imposing manner, while どっしり stresses calm, unshakable weightiness in bearing.
Opposites· 5 弱々しい describes a frail, weak appearance, the opposite of the imposing, majestic look conveyed by 堂々 .
こそこそ describes acting sneakily and furtively, the opposite of doing something 堂々 (openly and without shame).
堂々 describes acting openly and boldly in front of others, the opposite of こっそり 's secretive, unnoticed manner.
Show 2 more Show fewer 堂々 describes a bold, dignified manner, the opposite of the timid, fearful demeanor described by オドオド .
堂々 describes bold, confident, dignified behavior, the opposite of the timid, hesitant manner shown by おずおず .
Word family fair and square; open and aboveboard; bold and forthright
going around in circles; getting nowhere · circling a temple; circumambulation · roll-call vote
majestic; commanding; imposing; stately; dignified
triumphantly; in splendid array; with colors flying and band playing
openly in broad daylight; brazenly in public
with heroic drive and boundless energy
Written forms 堂どう 々どう Usage 99%
Standard modern spelling; high priority.
どうどう Usage 1%
堂どう 堂どう Usage <1%
Old-style kanji form; rarely used in modern writing.
Etymology The Sino-Japanese reduplicative expression 堂々 continues Chinese 堂堂 , meaning dignified, imposing, or magnificent. Its later adverbial senses include acting openly, boldly, or fairly.
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