A2 adjective 2 min read

희귀하다

Something that is very hard to find because there is not much of it.

huigwihada
Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use 희귀하다 when you see something special. If there is only one, it is rare. It is not common. You can say 'This is rare' in Korean as '이것은 희귀해요'.

When you go to a museum, you see rare things. In Korean, we call these 희귀한 물건. It means you cannot find them easily in a shop. It is a very useful word for describing things that are hard to get.

In intermediate Korean, you use 희귀하다 to describe things like rare animals, rare books, or even rare opportunities. It helps you sound more descriptive. Remember to use the form 희귀한 when you want to put it before a noun, like 희귀한 꽃 (a rare flower).

At this level, you can use 희귀하다 to discuss abstract concepts. Perhaps you are talking about a rare talent or a rare occurrence. It helps distinguish between things that are merely 'uncommon' and things that are truly 'scarce' or 'precious.'

Advanced learners use 희귀하다 to add nuance to their writing. It is often used in academic papers regarding biology or history. You might encounter it in phrases like 희귀 사례 (rare case) to emphasize that an event deviates from the statistical norm.

At the mastery level, you understand that 희귀하다 carries a connotation of value. It is not just about frequency; it is about the prestige or the scientific significance of the subject. Use it to elevate your discourse when discussing limited resources or unique historical artifacts.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Means rare or scarce.
  • Combines 'rare' and 'precious'.
  • Used for animals, objects, and events.
  • Antonym is '흔하다'.

When we talk about 희귀하다 (rare), we are talking about something that isn't found just anywhere. Think of a four-leaf clover or a blue diamond; these things are 희귀하다 because they don't show up often in nature or the market.

Using this word adds a layer of significance to what you are describing. It suggests that because the item or event is hard to find, it holds a higher level of importance or interest compared to common things. It is a great way to highlight uniqueness in your speech.

The word 희귀하다 is a Sino-Korean word. It is composed of two Hanja characters: 희 (稀), meaning 'rare' or 'scarce,' and 귀 (貴), meaning 'precious' or 'expensive.'

Historically, the combination of these characters reflects the economic principle that things which are scarce naturally become precious. By using this term, you are essentially saying that something is 'rare and therefore valuable.' It has been used in academic and literary contexts for centuries to describe everything from precious metals to elusive natural phenomena.

You will often hear 희귀하다 used when discussing 희귀한 동물 (rare animals) or 희귀한 질병 (rare diseases). It is a formal yet widely understood adjective that fits well in both news reports and casual conversations about collections or hobbies.

Because it carries a slightly formal weight, it is perfect for describing things that are noteworthy. If you are talking about a common item like a pen, you wouldn't say it is 희귀하다, but if you found a pen from the 18th century, it would definitely be 희귀하다.

While 희귀하다 is an adjective, it is often paired with other words to create strong expressions. For example, 희귀한 보석 (rare gem) is used to describe a person with a great personality. Another common phrase is 희귀종 (rare species), which is used in scientific contexts. You might also hear 희귀한 기회 (rare opportunity) when someone gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

As an adjective, 희귀하다 follows the standard Korean conjugation rules for descriptive verbs. In its basic dictionary form, it ends in -다. When modifying a noun, you change it to 희귀한 (e.g., 희귀한 책 - a rare book).

Pronunciation-wise, focus on the 'hui-gwi' sound. The 'ui' diphthong can be tricky for learners, so practice sliding the 'u' into the 'i'. It rhymes with words ending in similar 'i' sounds, though it is quite unique in its structure.

Fun Fact

The character '귀' is also used in words for expensive.

Pronunciation Guide

UK N/A

Korean phonetics apply.

US N/A

Korean phonetics apply.

Common Errors

  • Mispronouncing 'ui'
  • Dropping the final 'da'
  • Incorrect stress on 'gwi'

Rhymes With

귀하다 기하다 미하다 비하다 피하다

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy

Writing 2/5

Easy

Speaking 2/5

Easy

Listening 2/5

Easy

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

많다 적다

Learn Next

진귀하다 희소하다

Advanced

희소 가치

Grammar to Know

Adjective conjugation

희귀하다 -> 희귀한

Sino-Korean roots

희 (Rare)

Sentence structure

Subject-Object-Verb

Examples by Level

1

이것은 희귀해요.

This is rare.

Basic adjective ending.

1

희귀한 꽃을 봤어요.

2

이 새는 아주 희귀해요.

3

희귀한 책이 많아요.

4

그것은 희귀한 거예요.

5

희귀한 사진이에요.

6

희귀한 보석이죠.

7

정말 희귀하네요.

8

희귀한 기회예요.

1

희귀한 동물을 보호해야 합니다.

2

그는 희귀한 재능을 가지고 있다.

3

이 지역에는 희귀한 식물이 자란다.

4

희귀한 질병에 대한 연구가 필요하다.

5

그런 경험은 매우 희귀하다.

6

희귀한 우표를 수집해요.

7

희귀한 사례를 발견했다.

8

희귀한 기회를 놓치지 마세요.

1

그의 성격은 참 희귀하다.

2

희귀한 자료를 찾기가 어렵다.

3

이 현상은 매우 희귀한 것으로 알려져 있다.

4

희귀한 예술 작품을 경매에 내놓았다.

5

자연에서 희귀한 광물을 발견했다.

6

희귀한 기상 현상이 나타났다.

7

희귀한 언어를 연구하는 학자들.

8

희귀한 성공 사례를 분석했다.

1

이런 희귀한 기회는 다시 오지 않을 것이다.

2

그의 통찰력은 희귀한 수준이다.

3

희귀한 유전적 변이가 발견되었다.

4

역사적으로 매우 희귀한 문서이다.

5

희귀한 조류의 서식지를 보호하자.

6

그는 희귀한 취미를 가지고 있다.

7

희귀한 금속 자원이 고갈되고 있다.

8

희귀한 경험을 통해 성장했다.

1

그의 예술적 감각은 매우 희귀한 것이다.

2

희귀한 고문서들이 도서관에 보관되어 있다.

3

그 사건은 통계적으로 매우 희귀한 경우이다.

4

희귀한 식물군이 이 섬에 서식한다.

5

희귀한 재능을 가진 사람을 찾기는 힘들다.

6

그의 희귀한 행보는 많은 주목을 받았다.

7

희귀한 질환에 대한 치료법을 개발 중이다.

8

희귀한 기회를 포착하는 안목이 필요하다.

Common Collocations

희귀한 동물
희귀한 질병
희귀한 기회
매우 희귀하다
희귀한 식물
희귀한 재능
희귀한 자료
희귀한 사례
희귀한 보석
희귀한 경험

Idioms & Expressions

"보기 드물다"

Rare to see

그는 보기 드문 인재다.

neutral

"귀한 몸"

Precious person

귀한 몸이 오셨네요.

polite

"희귀종"

Rare species

이 새는 희귀종이다.

formal

"천금 같다"

Worth a thousand gold pieces

그의 조언은 천금 같다.

literary

"희소 가치"

Scarcity value

희소 가치가 높다.

formal

Easily Confused

희귀하다 vs 드물다

Both mean rare.

드물다 is about frequency, 희귀하다 is about scarcity/value.

눈이 드물다 vs 희귀한 보석.

희귀하다 vs 귀하다

Both mean precious/rare.

귀하다 emphasizes preciousness more.

귀한 손님.

희귀하다 vs 흔하다

Opposite.

흔하다 means common.

흔한 꽃.

희귀하다 vs 진귀하다

Both mean rare.

진귀하다 is for objects.

진귀한 물건.

Sentence Patterns

A1

Subject + 은/는 + 희귀하다

이 꽃은 희귀하다.

A2

희귀한 + Noun

희귀한 동물이다.

A2

매우 + 희귀하다

이것은 매우 희귀하다.

B1

희귀한 + Noun + 을/를 + 찾다

희귀한 책을 찾았다.

B1

희귀한 + Noun + 이/가 + 있다

희귀한 재능이 있다.

Word Family

Nouns

희귀성 Rarity

Adjectives

희귀하다 Rare

Related

드물다 Synonym

How to Use It

frequency

7

Formality Scale

Formal Neutral

Common Mistakes

Using '희귀하다' for everyday objects → Use '흔하다' or '보통이다'
It sounds unnatural to call common things rare.
Confusing with '귀엽다' → Use '희귀하다' for rarity, '귀엽다' for cute
Similar sounds, different meanings.
Incorrect noun modification → Use '희귀한' + noun
Adjectives must be modified to modify nouns.
Overusing in every sentence → Use synonyms like '드물다'
Variety makes speech better.
Misplacing the adverb → Place '매우' before '희귀하다'
Adverbs precede the adjective.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Imagine a rare item in your room.

💡

Native Usage

Use it for nature topics.

🌍

Cultural Insight

Sino-Korean roots.

💡

Grammar Shortcut

Use -한 for nouns.

💡

Say It Right

Focus on 'ui'.

💡

Don't Make This Mistake

Don't use for common items.

💡

Did You Know?

It combines rare and precious.

💡

Study Smart

Use flashcards.

💡

Context

Scientific papers.

💡

Adjective Rule

It is descriptive.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a rare diamond (귀) that is hard to find (희).

Visual Association

A single white tiger in a forest.

Word Web

Rare Precious Unique Limited

Challenge

Find 3 things in your room that are definitely NOT 희귀하다.

Word Origin

Sino-Korean

Original meaning: Rare and precious

Cultural Context

None.

Directly maps to 'rare'.

Used in many nature documentaries.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Nature

  • 희귀한 동물
  • 희귀한 식물
  • 희귀종

Collecting

  • 희귀한 우표
  • 희귀한 책
  • 희귀한 보석

Research

  • 희귀한 사례
  • 희귀한 질병
  • 희귀한 자료

General

  • 희귀한 기회
  • 정말 희귀하다
  • 보기 드물다

Conversation Starters

"What is the most rare thing you have seen?"

"Do you collect anything rare?"

"Why are some animals rare?"

"Is it good to be rare?"

"What rare talent do you have?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a rare item you own.

Write about a rare animal.

Why is it important to protect rare species?

Think of a rare opportunity you had.

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

No, it can be for events or people too.

Yes, if they are very unique.

흔하다.

It is neutral-formal.

Yes, if it is a rare delicacy.

매우 희귀하다.

Yes, often.

It implies value, but doesn't mean 'expensive' directly.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

이 꽃은 정말 ___.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 희귀해요

Describes rarity.

multiple choice A2

Which word means 'rare'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 희귀하다

Definition match.

true false B1

'희귀하다' means something is very common.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

It means the opposite.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Adjective form.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Subject-Object-Verb.

Score: /5

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

稀な Japanese 可遇不可求 Chinese
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