堂々

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 堂々 (どうどう) is an adverbial expression for acting confidently without hesitation or intimidation.
• Basic usage: 堂々と入場する modifies a representative athlete’s confident entrance, while 堂々たる演説 uses a literary attributive form for a speech before a crowd.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Adverbial and literary attributive forms
  • 堂々と modifies an action, whereas 堂々たる is an attributive form before a noun. The expression does not merely mean loud volume or large physique.