珍めずらしい

i-adjective

rare; uncommon; unusual

The core modern meaning: something is not often seen, does not often happen, or stands out as unusual. Can be neutral or mildly curious depending on context.

• 庭にわに珍めずらしい鳥とりが来きていた。

  A rare bird had come into the garden.

• 彼かれが遅ち刻こくするなんて珍めずらしい。

  It's unusual for him to be late.

i-adjective

new; novel; unfamiliar

Used when something feels new, unfamiliar, or novel to the person experiencing it, often with a sense of interest or curiosity.

• 子こどもたちは初はじめて見みる雪ゆきが珍めずらしくて、外そとへ飛とび出だした。

  The children found the snow, which they were seeing for the first time, so novel that they ran outside.

• 外がい国こくの市いち場ばは彼かの女じょには何なにもかも珍めずらしかった。

  Everything in the foreign market felt new and unfamiliar to her.

i-adjective

fine; splendid; precious

Rare older or literary use meaning admirable, splendid, or precious. In ordinary modern Japanese, 珍しい usually means 'rare' or 'unusual,' not simply 'nice.'

• 古ふるい用よう法ほうでは、「珍めずらしい」が「すばらしい」「大たい切せつな」という意い味みで説せつ明めいされることがある。

  In older usage, 珍しい is sometimes explained as meaning 'splendid' or 'precious.'