稀まれ

ま

れ

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

usually written using kana alone

Describes something that occurs infrequently or is hard to find. Often used as a na-adjective or adverbially with に.

〈事こと〉は稀まれだit is rare that ~
彼かれが遅ち刻こくするのは稀まれだ。
It's rare for him to be late.
稀まれに〈動どう詞し〉rarely does ~ (happen)
この地ち域いきでは稀まれに雪ゆきが降ふる。
It rarely snows in this area.

珍めずらしいN4
珍しい is an i-adjective stressing that something is unusual or surprising, while 稀 is a na-adjective stressing low frequency or scarcity.
希き少しょうN1
希少 is a more formal, often written term for something scarce or in short supply, while 稀 is the plainer everyday word for 'rare/infrequent'.
偶たまN3
偶 describes something occasional or infrequent in an everyday, colloquial way (usually as 偶に), while 稀 is a more formal/literary word emphasizing rarity or scarcity.
数かず少すくない
稀 stresses that something is uncommon or infrequent in occurrence, whereas 数少ない focuses on the small count of items or people that exist.

頻ひん繁ぱんN2
頻繁 describes something happening often or frequently, the opposite of 稀, which describes something happening rarely.
しきりN2
稀 describes something that happens rarely, the direct opposite of しきり's sense of frequent, repeated occurrence.

希き
希 is a bound prefix used inside compounds like 希少 to mean 'rare', while 稀 is a standalone adjective meaning 'rare' that can be used on its own, as in 稀な出来事.

The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 稀 and 希 both carry meanings of 'rare' or 'sparse' and are used interchangeably for this word.