Chinese word

罕见

Pronunciation

Pinyinhǎn jiàn

Meaning

  • adjectiverare

Example

这种鸟在这里罕见。zhè zhǒng niǎo zài zhè lǐ hǎn jiàn

This bird is rare here.

Illustration for 罕见 (rare)

More examples

这种材料上的缺陷很罕见。zhè zhǒng cái liào shàng de quē xiàn hěn hǎn jiàn

Defects in this material are very rare.

Core concept

A presence at the far edge of ordinary experience, encountered only now and then and therefore unusual in occurrence or amount.

Common phrases

  • 极为罕见jí wéi hǎn jiàn

    extremely rare

  • 罕见的病例hǎn jiàn de bìng lì

    rare case

  • 罕见的品种hǎn jiàn de pín zhǒng

    rare variety

Similar words

少见shǎo jiàn: Describes something not often encountered in everyday experience.
不常见bù cháng jiàn: Describes something that is not commonly seen or found.
稀有xī yǒu: Describes something existing in very small numbers and therefore scarce.

Definition in Chinese

不常见到或出现，数量或发生机会很少的。bù cháng jiàn dào huò chū xiàn shù liàng huò fā shēng jī huì hén shǎo de

Word origin

The word combines 罕 (hǎn, "rare or few") + 见 (jiàn, "see"), extending the idea of being seldom seen to anything uncommon in occurrence or amount.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 很少见 (hěn shǎojiàn, "seen very little") often sounds more casual than 罕见 (hǎnjiàn, "rare"), which fits news reports and other more formal descriptions.

Other meanings

  • scarceadjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 罕见病hǎn jiàn bìngrare diseasenoun

Word lists with this word