稀(まれ)

まれ
na-adjective
rare; seldom; uncommon
formalwrittendescriptive
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。
Once in a long while, I get a phone call.

Common patterns

  • 稀(まれ)な + noun — a rare ~: 稀(まれ)な例(れい) (a rare case), 稀(まれ)なこと (a rare thing)
  • 稀(まれ)に — rarely, seldom (adverbial): 稀(まれ)に見(み)る (rarely seen)
  • 稀(まれ)にしか〜ない — only rarely ~
  • 稀(まれ)だ / 稀(まれ)です — is rare (predicate)

Similar words

  • 珍(めずら)しい emphasizes unusualness or curiosity value; 稀(まれ) is purely about low frequency of occurrence.
  • めったに〜ない needs a negative predicate; 稀(まれ)に also works in affirmative sentences.
  • たまに means "occasionally" — a low but ordinary frequency. 稀(まれ)に is lower still and treats the event as exceptional.

Register

Formal and written-leaning: news reports, official notices, technical and medical description (稀(まれ)な病気(びょうき)). In everyday conversation 珍(めずら)しい and めったに are the natural choices. Often written in kana as まれ; 希(まれ) is an accepted variant kanji.

Related Words

Related: 珍(めずら)しい (unusual, rare)
Related: 滅多(めった)に (rarely (with a negative))
Compare: たまに (occasionally)
core
Added 2026.1.13 15:25 · Revised 2026.10.12 3:57
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