also: しかる
pre-noun adjectival
a certain; a particular
Only with reading さる
Pre-noun adjectival (rentaishi) meaning 'a certain' or 'a particular', used to refer to something specific but not named. Restricted to the reading さる. Usually written in kana.
さる筋からの情報によると、会議は延期されたそうだ。
According to information from a certain source, the meeting has been postponed.
He quit the company for certain (unspecified) reasons.
pre-noun adjectival
such a; that kind of
Pre-noun adjectival (rentaishi) meaning 'such a' or 'that kind of'. The reading しかる is archaic and rarely used in modern Japanese; さる is the common reading for this sense as well.
さる事情があって、彼は欠席した。
Due to certain circumstances, he was absent.
然る人物からの情報によると、計画は変更された。
According to information from a certain person, the plan was changed.
The meeting was held at a certain place.
とある is a casual, common pre-noun word for 'a certain', whereas 然る sounds stiffer and more literary.
然る (さる, 'a certain') and 去る (さる, 'to leave/past') share the same reading but are completely unrelated in meaning and part of speech.
然る can archaically be read しかる ('such a'), which is easily confused by sound with 叱る (しかる, 'to scold'), a common verb with a totally different meaning.
Kanji form is rare; the word is usually written in kana. Included for recognition in older texts.
Standard modern spelling for the reading さる, used as a pre-noun adjectival.
Archaic reading; may appear in classical or highly formal contexts. Not used in modern Japanese.
Derived from the classical Japanese verb 然り (さり), meaning 'to be so'. The pre-noun adjectival form さる developed from the attributive form of さり. The reading しかる is the attributive form of the classical verb 然り (しかり), which is now archaic.