1.
precious; valuable; rare
Describes something of great value or importance, whether material or abstract. Often used for things that are irreplaceable or hard to obtain — time, experiences, resources, or cultural artifacts.
貴重な体験だった。
It was a valuable experience.
この美術館には貴重な絵画が多い。
This art museum has many precious paintings.
限られた貴重な時間を無駄にしたくない。
I don't want to waste what little precious time we have.
USAGE:
A versatile adjective used across formal and informal registers. Very commonly applied to abstract concepts like 時間 (time), 経験 (experience), and 意見 (opinion), as well as tangible items like 資料 (documents) and 品 (items).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 貴重な体験 (valuable experience)
- 貴重な時間 (precious time)
- 貴重な資料 (valuable documents/materials)
- 貴重品 (valuables)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 大切な: important, cherished — emphasizes personal care and emotional attachment
- 希少な: rare, scarce — focuses specifically on rarity rather than value