宛えん然ぜん

taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle

as if; just like; the very image of

Archaic literary expression used in classical or highly formal writing. Describes something that appears exactly like something else, often with a sense of vivid resemblance. Modern equivalents include まるで～のようだ or さながら.

• その光こう景けいは宛えん然ぜんとして一いっ幅ぷくの絵えのようであった。

  The scene was just like a painting.

• 彼かれの話はなしぶりは宛えん然ぜん、師し匠しょうを思おもわせるものがあった。

  His way of speaking was exactly like his master's.