Use '很少见' to describe things that you do not come across often in your daily life.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Used to describe something that occurs very infrequently.
- Functions as an adverb to modify verbs or adjectives.
- Commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese.
Overview
- 1概览：‘很少见’是一个形容词性短语，由‘很’（非常）、‘少’（次数不多）和‘见’（看见）组成。它直观地表达了某物出现的概率极低。2) 用法模式：它通常作状语，放在动词或形容词之前，例如‘很少见这种水果’。也可以作定语，修饰名词，但中间常加‘的’，如‘很少见的情况’。3) 常见语境：常用于描述自然景观（如日全食）、性格特征（如极度谦虚的人）或物品（如绝版书籍）。4) 同义词辨析：与‘罕见’相比，‘很少见’更口语化，适合日常交流；‘罕见’则更正式，常用于书面语或新闻报道。
Examples
这种鸟在城市里很少见。
everydayThis kind of bird is rarely seen in the city.
这种罕见病在医学界也很少见。
formalThis rare disease is also rarely seen in the medical field.
你今天居然准时，真是很少见！
informalYou are actually on time today, that's rare!
该现象在这一研究领域中极少见。
academicThis phenomenon is very rarely seen in this research field.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
确实很少见
Indeed rarely seen
非常少见
Very rarely seen
世上很少见
Rarely seen in the world
Often Confused With
‘罕见’比‘很少见’更书面化，多用于正式场合或书面语中。‘很少见’则更贴近生活，适用范围更广。
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The phrase '很少见' is neutral in register and can be used in casual conversations or formal reports. It is highly versatile and fits almost any context where rarity is mentioned. Avoid using it with negative markers like '不' as it contradicts its own meaning.
Common Mistakes
Learners often place '很少见' in the wrong position in a sentence. It should follow the subject or be placed before the verb it modifies. Beginners sometimes confuse it with '很少' (very little), which usually refers to quantity rather than frequency of visibility.
Tips
Use with emphasis
Adding '简直' before '很少见' (e.g., 简直很少见) emphasizes how truly rare the object or event is.
Avoid double negatives
Do not say '不很少见'. If you want to say something is common, use '很常见' instead.
Cultural nuance of rarity
In Chinese culture, describing something as '很少见' often implies that the object is precious or valuable due to its scarcity.
Word Origin
The phrase combines '很' (very), '少' (few), and '见' (see). It literally translates to 'very few times seen', reflecting the Chinese logic of compounding characters to describe frequency.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, things that are '很少见' are often valued as special or unique. This phrase is frequently used to express surprise or admiration when encountering something unusual.
Memory Tip
Think of '少' (few) + '见' (see). If you see something very few times, it is '很少见'.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions‘很少见’强调出现的频率极低，近乎稀有；‘不常见’则侧重于表示某物不是随处可见的，语气相对平和。
可以，放在句首通常是为了强调，例如‘很少见，他今天居然穿了西装’。
可以，例如‘这么好的人真是很少见’，意思是指这样品质的人非常稀少。
它属于中性词，既可以在朋友聊天时使用，也可以在正式的描述性文章中使用。
Test Yourself
这种蓝色的玫瑰在自然界中___。
根据上下文，蓝色玫瑰在自然界中是稀有的，因此用‘很少见’。
下面哪个词与‘很少见’意思最接近？
‘罕见’意为难得见到，与‘很少见’意义相同。
这种/很少见/天气/在/冬天。
符合中文的时间状语前置或主谓宾结构习惯。
Score: /3
Summary
Use '很少见' to describe things that you do not come across often in your daily life.
- Used to describe something that occurs very infrequently.
- Functions as an adverb to modify verbs or adjectives.
- Commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese.
Use with emphasis
Adding '简直' before '很少见' (e.g., 简直很少见) emphasizes how truly rare the object or event is.
Avoid double negatives
Do not say '不很少见'. If you want to say something is common, use '很常见' instead.
Cultural nuance of rarity
In Chinese culture, describing something as '很少见' often implies that the object is precious or valuable due to its scarcity.
Examples
4 of 4这种鸟在城市里很少见。
This kind of bird is rarely seen in the city.
这种罕见病在医学界也很少见。
This rare disease is also rarely seen in the medical field.
你今天居然准时，真是很少见！
You are actually on time today, that's rare!
该现象在这一研究领域中极少见。
This phenomenon is very rarely seen in this research field.
