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珍中の珍 (ちんちゅうのちん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

珍ちん中ちゅうの珍ちん

Meanings

1

expression, noun

rarity among rarities; rara avis; black swan

Emphatic set phrase meaning something extremely rare, literally 'rarity among rarities'. Used in both literal and figurative contexts.

この切きっ手ては珍ちん中ちゅうの珍ちんで、市し場じょうにほとんど出で回まわらない。
This stamp is a rarity among rarities and hardly ever appears on the market.
彼かれのような正しょう直じきな政せい治じ家かは珍ちん中ちゅうの珍ちんだ。
An honest politician like him is a black swan.

Kanji

珍rare, curious, strange
中in, inside, middle

Similar words

珍めずらしい
Common adjective meaning 'rare' or 'unusual'. 珍中の珍 is a much stronger, emphatic noun phrase.
希き少しょう
Formal term for 'scarce' or 'rare', often used in economic or ecological contexts. 珍中の珍 is more colloquial and hyperbolic.

Etymology

A set phrase composed of 珍 (rare) + 中 (among) + の (possessive particle) + 珍 (rare), literally 'rarity among rarities'. The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of emphatic repetition in Japanese.