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.
滅多に怒らない。
I rarely get angry.
こんなチャンスは滅多にない。
An opportunity like this is rare.
彼は滅多に人を褒めないので、褒められると嬉しい。
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.
滅多なことは言うな。
Don't say anything reckless.
滅多に手を出すものではない。
You shouldn't recklessly get involved.
滅多打ちにされた。
He was beaten indiscriminately.
USAGE:
Sense 1 (滅多に〜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 滅多打ち (indiscriminate beating) and 滅多なことを言う (to say something reckless).
The kanji 滅多 is often written in hiragana as めった.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 滅多に〜ない: rarely, seldom
- 滅多にないこと: a rare occurrence
- 滅多なことでは〜ない: not under ordinary circumstances
- 滅多打ち: indiscriminate beating, slashing