稀(まれ)

まれ
na-adjective
rare; seldom; uncommon
1. rare; uncommon
Not frequently occurring or encountered.
これは非常(ひじょう)に稀(まれ)な病気(びょうき)です。
This is a very rare disease.
彼(かれ)のような才能(さいのう)は稀(まれ)だ。
Talent like his is rare.
この地域(ちいき)では雪(ゆき)が降(ふ)るのは稀(まれ)なことだ。
It's rare for snow to fall in this area.
稀(まれ)な例(れい)だと思(おも)う。
I think it's a rare case.
このような機会(きかい)は稀(まれ)だ。
Such an opportunity is uncommon.
稀(まれ)に見(み)る美(うつく)しさだ。
It's a beauty rarely seen.
2. seldom; rarely
Happening on few occasions.
稀(まれ)に遅刻(ちこく)することがある。
I'm late on rare occasions.
稀(まれ)にしか会(あ)わない。
We rarely meet.
稀(まれ)に失敗(しっぱい)することもある。
I fail on rare occasions too.
稀(まれ)に電話(でんわ)がかかってくる。
I rarely get phone calls.

稀(まれ) is a na-adjective meaning rare or uncommon.

FORMS:

  • 稀(まれ)な + noun (rare ~)
  • 稀(まれ)に (rarely, seldom - adverbial)
  • 稀(まれ)だ (is rare)

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 稀(まれ)な例(れい) (rare case)
  • 稀(まれ)に見(み)る (rarely seen)
  • 稀(まれ)にしか～ない (only rarely ~)
  • 稀(まれ)なことだ (it's a rare thing)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 稀(まれ) vs. 珍(めずら)しい: 珍(めずら)しい emphasizes unusualness or curiosity value; 稀(まれ) focuses on low frequency of occurrence.
  • 稀(まれ) vs. めったに: めったに～ない means "rarely" (always with negative); 稀(まれ)に can be used in affirmative sentences.

KANJI VARIANTS:
{稀} can also be written as {希}. Both are acceptable.

Register: Neutral to slightly formal. Common in both spoken and written Japanese.

Related Words

Related: 珍(めずら)しい (unusual, rare)
core
Added 2026.1.13 15:25 · Revised 2026.2.4 19:52
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