稀け有う

also: きゆう

け

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

Describes something that is seldom encountered or exceptional. Often used in formal or literary contexts to emphasize scarcity.

これは稀け有うなケースです。
This is a rare case.
彼かれの才さい能のうは稀け有うだ。
His talent is rare.

See all 7 example sentences ›

Kanji

希hope, beg, request
有possess, have, exist
稀rare, phenomenal, dilute (acid)

Related words

珍めずらしい
珍しい is the common everyday word for 'rare' or 'unusual'. 稀有 is more formal and literary, often used in writing or formal speech.
まれ
まれ is a simpler, more colloquial adjectival noun for 'rare'. 稀有 carries a stronger sense of exceptional rarity and is more emphatic.

Written forms

稀有Usage64%
- けう
  Standard kanji spelling; 稀 is a common character for rarity.
- きゆう
  Alternate reading きゆう; less common than けう.
希有Usage32%
- けう
  Variant spelling using 希, which also carries a sense of rarity but is less common for this word.
- きゆう
  Alternate reading きゆう with variant kanji; rarely used.
けうUsage3%
きゆう

Etymology

Compound of 稀 (rare) and 有 (exist), literally 'rarely existing'. The reading けう is the standard on'yomi; きゆう is an older or alternate reading.