蕩とう々とう

と

う

と

う

Meanings

taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle

vast; boundless; calm and expansive

Literary adjective describing a vast, calm expanse, such as a great body of water or the open sky. Often used in classical or poetic contexts.

湖こ面めんは蕩とう々とうとして、まるで鏡かがみのようだった。
The lake surface was vast and calm, just like a mirror.
蕩とう々とうたる大おお海原うなばらを眺ながめていると、心こころが洗あらわれる思おもいがした。
Gazing at the boundless expanse of the ocean, I felt my heart being cleansed.

Kanji

蕩melt, be charmed, captivated
盪melt, be charmed, captivated

Related words

広ひろ々びろ
広々 is a common word for spaciousness, while 蕩々 is a literary term emphasizing both vastness and calmness.
悠ゆう々ゆう
悠々 implies leisureliness or composure, whereas 蕩々 focuses on the physical vastness and stillness of a scene.

Written forms

蕩とう々とうUsage18%
Standard kanji spelling using the repetition mark 々.
とうとうUsage82%
蕩とう蕩とう
Full kanji spelling without the repetition mark; less common but valid.
盪とう々とう
Variant kanji form; rarely used.
盪とう盪とう
Full variant kanji form; very rare.

Etymology

The exact derivation is uncertain; the kanji 蕩 and 盪 both carry meanings of 'moving' or 'washing away,' and the reduplicated form likely emphasizes boundlessness and tranquility.