欄干
Meanings
A railing or protective barrier on a bridge, veranda, balcony, corridor, or similar structure. For an everyday handrail inside a building, 手すり is often the more ordinary word.
I leaned on the bridge railing and looked at the river.
The temple corridor has vermilion-lacquered railings.
taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
shining brightly; brightly gleaming
Only when written 欄干 / 闌干
Archaic literary taru-adjective/adverbial use, chiefly for the moon or stars shining brightly. In modern Japanese it is mainly encountered in old-style poetic expressions rather than everyday speech.
The old poetic phrase “the stars shine rankan to” describes stars gleaming brightly.
taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle
flowing endlessly; streaming down
Only when written 欄干 / 闌干
Archaic literary taru-adjective/adverbial use for tears flowing without end. It is not a normal modern everyday way to describe crying.
The old expression “tears flow rankan to and wet the cheeks” describes tears streaming endlessly.
Usage patterns
- 欄干にもたれるto lean against a railing/balustrade
He leaned against the bridge railing and gazed at the scenery.
- 月が欄干と輝くthe moon shines brilliantly (archaic literary expression)
The moon is shining brilliantly.
- 涙が欄干と流れるtears flow endlessly (archaic literary expression)
Her tears streamed down endlessly.
- 欄干を掴むto grip a railing
Being afraid of heights, he gripped the railing tightly.
- 欄干越しに〈場所〉を見るto look at something over/through a railing
I looked down at the river over the railing.