滅多(めった)

めった
adverb, na-adjective
rarely, seldom; reckless
descriptive
1. rarely, seldom, hardly ever
Used with a negative verb to mean 'rarely' or 'hardly ever.' Always appears in the pattern めったに〜ない. This is by far the most common usage.
滅多(めった)に怒(おこ)らない。
I rarely get angry.
こんなチャンスは滅多(めった)にない。
An opportunity like this is rare.
彼(かれ)は滅多(めった)に人(ひと)を褒(ほ)めないので、褒(ほ)められると嬉(うれ)しい。
He rarely praises people, so it feels good when he does.
2. reckless, indiscriminate, thoughtless
Acting without careful thought or consideration. Used as a na-adjective to describe careless or random actions. Less common than sense 1.
滅多(めった)なことは言(い)うな。
Don't say anything reckless.
滅多(めった)に手(て)を出(だ)すものではない。
You shouldn't recklessly get involved.
滅多(めった)打(う)ちにされた。
He was beaten indiscriminately.

Usage

Sense 1 (滅多(めった)に〜ない) is extremely common and one of the standard ways to say "rarely" in Japanese. It always requires a negative ending.

Sense 2 is less common in modern Japanese but appears in set expressions like 滅多(めった)打(う)ち (indiscriminate beating) and 滅多(めった)なことを言(い)う (to say something reckless).

The kanji 滅多(めった) is often written in hiragana as めった.

Common patterns

  • 滅多(めった)に〜ない: rarely, seldom
  • 滅多(めった)にないこと: a rare occurrence
  • 滅多(めった)なことでは〜ない: not under ordinary circumstances
  • 滅多(めった)打(う)ち: indiscriminate beating, slashing
general
Added 2026.2.24 19:36 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13000/13361_metta