希代(きだい)

きだい
noun, no-adjective
rare; unprecedented; extraordinary
formaldescriptive
1. unprecedented; extraordinary; remarkably rare
Describes something or someone so exceptional that it occurs only rarely across generations. Used as a modifier before nouns to express that something is the most remarkable of its kind.
希代(きだい)の天才(てんさい)と呼(よ)ばれた。
He was called a once-in-a-generation genius.
彼女(かのじょ)は希代(きだい)の悪女(あくじょ)として歴史(れきし)に名(な)を残(のこ)した。
She went down in history as an extraordinary villainess.
希代(きだい)の名作(めいさく)と言(い)われるこの小説(しょうせつ)は、百年(ひゃくねん)経(た)った今(いま)でも読(よ)み継(つ)がれている。
This novel, said to be an extraordinary masterpiece, is still read even a hundred years later.

Composed of 希(き) (rare, uncommon) + 代(だい) (generation, era). Literally means 'rare across generations,' implying something so exceptional it appears only once in many lifetimes. Also written as 稀代(きだい) (with a different kanji for 'rare'). Used almost exclusively as a prenominal modifier (希代(きだい)の + noun).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 稀有(けう): extremely rare — emphasizes rarity; often used for unusual situations
  • 空前(くうぜん): unprecedented — literally 'never before seen'
  • 不世出(ふせいしゅつ): appearing once in a generation — similar in meaning; more literary

Related Words

Compare: 稀有(けう) (extremely rare)
Compare: 空前(くうぜん) (unprecedented)
general
Added 2026.4.7 2:33 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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