1.
rarely, seldom
Not often; used with negative verb forms to indicate that something happens infrequently.
彼は滅多に怒らない。
He rarely gets angry.
こんな機会は滅多にない。
Such an opportunity rarely comes.
滅多にない = rare, uncommon
滅多に外食しない。
I rarely eat out.
USAGE: 滅多に is almost always used with negative verbs (〜ない) to express rarity.
GRAMMAR PATTERN:
- 滅多に + negative verb (rarely does ~)
- 滅多にない (is rare, seldom occurs)
CONTRAST:
- 滅多に〜ない - rarely (strong emphasis on rarity)
- あまり〜ない - not very often (milder)
- ほとんど〜ない - hardly ever (even stronger)
- たまに - occasionally (opposite sense, without negative)