延々
Meanings
1
adverb taking the 'to' particle, taru-adjective
endlessly; on and on; continuously
Only when written 延々 / 延延
Describes an action or state that continues without stopping, often with a sense of tediousness. Used adverbially with と or as a たる adjective.
His story went on and on.
I walked along the endlessly continuing desert road.
2
taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
meandering; winding; serpentine
Describes a long, winding shape like a river or path. Literary and somewhat rare; often replaced by 曲がりくねった in everyday speech.
I climbed the winding mountain path.
The river flows meanderingly.
Usage patterns
- 〈事〉が延々と続くfor something to go on and on without end
The meeting went on and on, and everyone got exhausted.
- 延々たる〈物〉a long, winding (road, river, etc.)
A long, winding mountain road stretched on.
- 延々と〈動詞〉to do something endlessly or for a very long time
He went on and on bragging about himself.