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B1 adjective #2,000 mais comum 6 min de leitura

珍しい

mezurashii Top 2,000

At the A1 level, you should learn 'mezurashii' as a simple adjective to describe things that are 'not common.' You might use it to talk about a rare animal you saw at the zoo or a type of food you don't eat often. Focus on the basic sentence structure: '[Noun] wa mezurashii desu.' (This is rare). It is a useful word for expressing basic interest or surprise in new experiences. Think of it as a step up from just saying 'sugoi' (amazing).

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'mezurashii' to describe people's actions. For example, 'Mezurashiku hayai desu ne' (You are unusually early). You should also learn the negative form 'mezurashiku nai' to say something is common. You can start using it to describe your own hobbies or things you find in your hometown that might be rare for others. It helps in making your descriptions more specific and engaging during basic conversations.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'mezurashii' in various grammatical forms, including the adverbial 'mezurashiku' and the noun-modifying form. You can use it to explain cultural differences, such as 'This fruit is rare in my country.' You should also understand the nuance of using it to point out a change in someone's routine without being rude. This level requires you to distinguish it from 'okashii' (strange) and 'hen' (weird) in context.

At the B2 level, you use 'mezurashii' to discuss more abstract concepts, like rare opportunities or unusual social phenomena. You can use it in complex sentences with 'koto' or 'mono.' You should also be aware of more formal synonyms like 'mare' and 'kishou' and know when to choose 'mezurashii' for a more natural, conversational tone. You can use it to provide commentary on news stories or social trends, expressing how rare a particular event is in the current climate.

At the C1 level, you understand the subtle emotional weight 'mezurashii' can carry. It can imply a sense of nostalgia, value, or even a subtle critique depending on the context. You are able to use it in idiomatic expressions and understand its use in literature to set a specific mood. You can discuss the etymology and the kanji '珍' in depth, and you can use the word to describe highly specific technical or academic rarities when a more formal term isn't required for the audience.

At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'mezurashii.' You can use it with perfect native-like nuance, employing it for irony, sarcasm, or profound appreciation. You understand its historical usage and how it has evolved in the modern lexicon. You can effortlessly switch between 'mezurashii' and its many synonyms to achieve the exact rhetorical effect desired in high-level writing, public speaking, or complex negotiations where acknowledging the 'unusual' nature of a situation is crucial.

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

珍しい em 30 segundos

珍しい (mezurashii) is an i-adjective meaning 'rare' or 'unusual'. It is used for things that don't happen often.
It can modify nouns directly (珍しい花) or be used as an adverb (珍しく) to describe unusual actions.
Unlike 'strange' (okashii), it focuses on frequency and scarcity rather than just being weird or off-putting.
It is commonly used in social contexts to comment on someone doing something out of character or visiting after a long time.

The Japanese word 珍しい (mezurashii) is a primary i-adjective used to describe things that are rare, unusual, or uncommon. It encompasses a wide range of meanings from 'scarce' in a physical sense to 'novel' or 'surprising' in a social context. When you encounter something that doesn't happen every day, mezurashii is your go-to descriptor.

Core Concept: The essence of 'mezurashii' lies in the deviation from the norm. It is not just about quantity (scarcity) but also about the emotional response of finding something unexpected or refreshing.

今日は雪が降るなんて、この町では珍しいことです。(Snow falling today is a rare thing in this town.)

In a deeper sense, the word is composed of the kanji 珍 (rare/curious). It suggests that the object or event has a certain value because of its rarity. Unlike 'kowai' (scary) or 'okashii' (strange/funny), 'mezurashii' is generally neutral to positive. It implies that the observer is paying attention to the uniqueness of the moment. For instance, seeing a rare bird or finding a rare stamp would both be described as 'mezurashii'. It is also used in social etiquette; when someone visits after a long time, you might say 'Mezurashii desu ne' to acknowledge the special nature of their visit.

Nuance of Rarity: It differs from 'mare' (稀), which is more formal and often refers to statistical rarity. 'Mezurashii' is more conversational and subjective.

こんなに珍しい切手は見たことがありません。(I have never seen such a rare stamp.)

Using 珍しい correctly requires understanding its role as an i-adjective. It can directly modify nouns or act as a predicate. Because it conveys a sense of 'unusualness,' it is frequently paired with particles like 'ni' to form adverbs or 'koto' to describe rare occurrences.

Direct Modification: Place it directly before a noun: 珍しい花 (mezurashii hana - a rare flower). This is the simplest and most common usage.

彼は珍しい趣味を持っています。(He has an unusual hobby.)

When used as a predicate, it often ends a sentence to comment on a situation. For example, if a normally late person arrives early, you might say, 'Hayai desu ne. Mezurashii!' (You're early. That's rare!). This usage is very common in daily conversation to point out deviations from habits.

Adverbial Form: Change the final 'i' to 'ku' to make it an adverb: 珍しく (mezurashiku). Example: 珍しく勉強している (He is studying, which is rare for him).

今日は珍しく道が混んでいます。(The roads are unusually crowded today.)

In formal writing, you might see 'mezurashii' used to describe scientific phenomena or historical artifacts. In these cases, it emphasizes the objective scarcity of the subject. It is also found in the phrase 'mezurashiku mo nai' (not even rare/quite common), which is a double negative used for emphasis.

Negative Form: 珍しくない (mezurashiku nai) means 'not rare' or 'common'. It is used to downplay the uniqueness of something.

そんな間違いは珍しくない。(Such mistakes are not uncommon.)

You will encounter 珍しい in various settings, from casual chats to news broadcasts. In daily life, it's a staple of small talk. Japanese culture values the changing of seasons and the unique events that come with them, making 'mezurashii' a frequent word in discussions about weather, food, and travel.

Travel and Souvenirs: When people travel, they look for 'mezurashii omiyage' (rare/unique souvenirs) to bring back to friends and colleagues.

これはこの地方でしか採れない珍しい果物です。(This is a rare fruit that can only be harvested in this region.)

On the news, announcers use it to describe rare weather patterns, astronomical events like eclipses, or the discovery of new species. It adds a sense of importance and 'newsworthiness' to the report. In documentaries, it highlights the uniqueness of certain cultures or animal behaviors.

Social Interactions: If a friend who usually hates sports goes to a baseball game, you'd say: 'Mezurashii ne! Dou shita no?' (That's rare! What happened?).

おや、君が自炊するなんて珍しいね。(Oh, it's rare for you to cook for yourself.)

In the workplace, it might be used to describe a rare error or an unusual request from a client. It helps frame the situation as an exception rather than the rule, which can be useful for managing expectations. Overall, 'mezurashii' is a versatile word that bridges the gap between objective observation and personal reaction.

While 珍しい is relatively straightforward, learners often confuse it with other words that mean 'strange' or 'new.' Understanding these distinctions is key to sounding natural in Japanese.

Mezurashii vs. Okashii: 'Okashii' means strange, weird, or funny. Use 'mezurashii' for rarity, and 'okashii' when something feels 'off' or suspicious.

× この魚は珍しい味がする (This fish tastes rare - incorrect if you mean 'weird'). ○ この魚は変な味がする。

Another common mistake is using 'mezurashii' when you actually mean 'atarashii' (new). While something rare is often new to the observer, 'mezurashii' implies it is hard to find, whereas 'atarashii' simply means it was recently made or acquired.

Mezurashii vs. Mare: 'Mare' (稀) is a na-adjective or noun used for statistical rarity (e.g., a rare disease). 'Mezurashii' is more for personal observation.

× 珍しいケース (A rare case - in a medical paper). ○ 稀なケース (A rare case - more professional).

Finally, be careful with the adverbial form 'mezurashiku.' Learners sometimes use it to mean 'rarely' in the sense of frequency (like 'seldom'). While it can mean that, it more specifically means 'unusually' in the context of a specific action. For general low frequency, 'metta ni... nai' is often better.

Japanese has several words that overlap with 珍しい. Choosing the right one depends on the level of formality and the specific type of 'rarity' you want to convey.

希少 (Kishou): Used for resources or items that are scarce in quantity, like 'kishou kinzoku' (rare metals).

このコインは非常に希少価値が高い。(This coin has very high scarcity value.)

Another synonym is 稀 (Mare). As mentioned before, this is more formal. It often appears in the phrase 'mare ni miru' (rarely seen) or to describe rare talents. 不思議 (Fushigi) is also related but means 'mysterious' or 'wonderful' rather than just rare.

ユニーク (Unique): Borrowed from English, used for things that are one-of-a-kind or have a distinct personality.

彼女のデザインはとてもユニークだ。(Her designs are very unique.)

Finally, 風変わり (Fuugawari) describes something that is eccentric or unconventional. While 'mezurashii' focuses on the fact that it doesn't happen often, 'fuugawari' focuses on the fact that it is 'strange' compared to social norms.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Nível de dificuldade

Gramática essencial

Exemplos por nível

これは珍しい花です。

This is a rare flower.

Simple noun modification.

珍しい魚を見ました。

I saw a rare fish.

Past tense verb with adjective.

日本のアニメは珍しくないです。

Japanese anime is not rare.

Negative form 'mezurashiku nai'.

それはとても珍しいですね。

That is very rare, isn't it?

Using 'ne' for agreement.

珍しいお土産を買いました。

I bought a rare souvenir.

Adjective + Noun.

この果物は珍しいですか？

Is this fruit rare?

Question form.

珍しい鳥がいます。

There is a rare bird.

Existence verb 'imasu'.

雪は珍しいです。

Snow is rare.

Simple predicate.

今日は珍しく早起きしました。

I woke up early today, which is rare.

Adverbial 'mezurashiku'.

彼が怒るのは珍しいことです。

It is a rare thing for him to get angry.

Using 'koto' to nominalize.

珍しい切手を見せてもらいました。

I was shown some rare stamps.

Receiving an action.

この辺りでは珍しい苗字です。

It's a rare surname in this area.

Describing a noun in context.

珍しく天気がいいですね。

The weather is unusually good, isn't it?

Adverbial usage for weather.

そんなに珍しいものじゃないよ。

It's not that rare of a thing.

Casual negative.

珍しい料理を食べに行きましょう。

Let's go eat some unusual food.

Volitional 'mashou'.

昨日は珍しく忙しかったです。

Yesterday was unusually busy.

Past tense adverbial.

最近では、こういう古い家は珍しくなりました。

Nowadays, these kinds of old houses have become rare.

Adverbial + 'naru' (to become).

珍しいこともあるものだね。

Rare things do happen, don't they?

Exclamatory phrase.

彼が遅刻するなんて珍しいですね。

It's rare for him to be late.

Using 'nante' for surprise.

珍しく熱心に勉強していますね。

You are studying with unusual enthusiasm.

Modifying another adverb/adjective.

これは世界でも珍しい種類の植物です。

This is a species of plant that is rare even in the world.

Relative clause-like structure.

珍しい経験ができて良かったです。

I'm glad I could have a rare experience.

Potential form 'dekite'.

そのニュースはそれほど珍しくありません。

That news is not that unusual.

Polite negative with degree.

珍しい名前なので、すぐに覚えられました。

Because it's a rare name, I could remember it immediately.

Cause and effect with 'node'.

このような機会は滅多にない珍しいものです。

Such an opportunity is a rare thing that seldom occurs.

Combining with 'metta ni'.

珍しくもない光景だが、どこか懐かしい。

It's not even a rare sight, but it's somehow nostalgic.

Double negative 'mezurashiku mo nai'.

彼が妥協するのは非常に珍しいケースだ。

It is an extremely rare case for him to compromise.

Formal 'case' usage.

珍しく意見が一致しましたね。

Unusually, our opinions have aligned.

Abstract adverbial usage.

その現象は科学的にも非常に珍しいとされている。

That phenomenon is considered very rare scientifically.

Passive 'to sarete iru'.

珍しいからといって、必ずしも価値があるわけではない。

Just because it's rare doesn't necessarily mean it's valuable.

Logic pattern 'kara to itte... wake dewa nai'.

珍しく弱音を吐くなんて、何かあったの？

To unusually whine like that, did something happen?

Surprise at behavior.

この地域特有の珍しい習慣が残っている。

Rare customs unique to this region still remain.

Complex noun phrase.

古書市場でも滅多にお目にかかれない珍しい逸品だ。

It is a rare gem seldom seen even in the second-hand book market.

Honorific 'o-me-ni-kakarenai'.

珍しく神妙な面持ちで話を聞いている。

He is listening with an unusually meek expression.

Advanced vocabulary 'shinmyou'.

その政治家の発言は、今の時代には珍しいほど率直だった。

The politician's remarks were candid to a degree rare in this day and age.

Comparative 'mezurashii hodo'.

珍しくもない日常の断片にこそ、真実が隠れている。

Truth is hidden in the very fragments of daily life that aren't even rare.

Philosophical usage.

彼は珍しく感情を露わにした。

He showed his emotions, which was rare for him.

Literary 'arawa ni shita'.

この論文は、珍しい視点から問題を分析している。

This paper analyzes the problem from a rare perspective.

Academic context.

珍しく雪が積もった朝、街は静寂に包まれていた。

On a morning when snow had unusually accumulated, the city was wrapped in silence.

Descriptive narrative.

その技術は、当時としては極めて珍しいものだった。

That technology was extremely rare for its time.

Historical context.

万に一つという珍しい確率でその事象は発生した。

The event occurred with a rare probability of one in ten thousand.

Idiomatic probability.

珍しくも何ともない話だが、彼が言うと面白く聞こえる。

It's a story that isn't rare or anything at all, but when he tells it, it sounds interesting.

Emphasis 'mo nani mo nai'.

当代随一の珍しい才能の持ち主である。

He is the possessor of a rare talent, the greatest of the current age.

Superlative 'toudai zuiichi'.

その建築様式は、和洋折衷の珍しい例として知られている。

That architectural style is known as a rare example of Japanese-Western fusion.

Technical terminology.

珍しく弱腰な姿勢を見せたのは、背後に何かあるからだろう。

The fact that he showed an unusually weak-kneed stance must be because there's something behind it.

Psychological analysis.

古今東西、これほど珍しい出来事は類を見ない。

In all times and places, such a rare event is unparalleled.

Grand rhetorical style.

珍しく言葉を濁したのは、彼なりの配慮だったのかもしれない。

The fact that he unusually spoke ambiguously might have been his own way of showing consideration.

Subtle social nuance.

その発見は、考古学界における珍しい快挙となった。

The discovery became a rare feat in the world of archaeology.

High-level reporting.

Colocações comuns

珍しい現象 (rare phenomenon)

珍しい経験 (rare experience)

珍しい動物 (rare animal)

珍しい機会 (rare opportunity)

珍しい名前 (rare name)

珍しい趣味 (unusual hobby)

珍しく早い (unusually early)

珍しく静か (unusually quiet)

珍しい切手 (rare stamp)

珍しい病気 (rare disease)

Frases Comuns

珍しいですね (That's rare, isn't it?)

珍しくもない (Not rare at all)

珍しいことに (Rarely/Unusually...)

珍しいもの見たさ (Curiosity to see rare things)

珍しくはない (It's not uncommon)

珍しい存在 (A rare presence)

珍しい光景 (A rare sight)

珍しい逸品 (A rare gem/item)

珍しい取り合わせ (An unusual combination)

珍しい客 (A rare guest)

Frequentemente confundido com

珍しい vs おかしい (okashii)

Okashii means strange/weird/funny; Mezurashii means rare/uncommon.

珍しい vs 変な (hen na)

Hen means odd or suspicious; Mezurashii is more neutral rarity.

珍しい vs 新しい (atarashii)

Atarashii means new; Mezurashii means hard to find.

Expressões idiomáticas

Fácil de confundir

珍しい vs

Padrões de frases

Como usar

formality

Appropriate for most situations except highly technical academic papers.

social nuance

Can be used to tease friends about being early or diligent.

Erros comuns

Using 'mezurashii' for 'creepy' (use 'kimyou').
Forgetting the 'i' in 'mezurashii desu'.
Using 'mezurashii' for 'new' (use 'atarashii').
Confusing 'mezurashiku' with 'rarely' in frequency charts.
Using it to describe a person's character as 'weird' (use 'kawatta hito').

Dicas

Small Talk

Use 'Mezurashii desu ne' when a coworker brings home-made lunch for the first time.

Adverbial Use

Remember that 'mezurashiku' modifies the whole action that follows it.

Omiyage

When giving a gift, saying it's 'mezurashii' makes it seem more thoughtful.

Antonyms

Learn 'arifureta' (commonplace) alongside 'mezurashii' for better contrast.

News

Listen for this word when reporters talk about rare animals or astronomical events.

Nuance

Use 'mezurashiku nai' to describe things that have become normal over time.

Intonation

A high pitch on 'ra' helps convey the sense of surprise.

Visualizing

Imagine a shiny, rare Pokémon; that is 'mezurashii'.

Politeness

Be careful using it for someone's mistakes; it might sound sarcastic.

Double Negatives

Try using 'mezurashiku mo nai' for things that are totally ordinary.

Memorize

Origem da palavra

Derived from the classical Japanese word 'mezurashi', which originally meant 'something that draws one's eye' or 'something one wants to keep looking at'.

Contexto cultural

Deep connection to seasonal changes and rare natural events.

Rare items are highly valued as gifts.

Used to point out changes in routine politely.

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Iniciadores de conversa

"最近、何か珍しいものを見ましたか？ (Have you seen anything rare lately?)"

"あなたの国で珍しい食べ物は何ですか？ (What is a rare food in your country?)"

"今日は珍しく早いですね。 (You're unusually early today.)"

"珍しい趣味を持っている人はいますか？ (Do you know anyone with an unusual hobby?)"

"この辺りで珍しい動物は何ですか？ (What are some rare animals around here?)"

Temas para diário

今日あった珍しい出来事について書いてください。 (Write about a rare event that happened today.)

あなたが持っている珍しいものについて説明してください。 (Describe something rare that you own.)

子供の頃、珍しいと思ったことは何ですか？ (What did you think was rare when you were a child?)

珍しい経験をした時の気持ちを書いてください。 (Write about how you felt when you had a rare experience.)

もし珍しい才能を持てるとしたら、何がいいですか？ (If you could have a rare talent, what would it be?)

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

Yes, but only in the sense of being 'unusual' or 'rare'. If something is 'strange' because it's creepy or wrong, use 'hen' or 'okashii'.

Use the adverbial form 'mezurashiku', but it usually means 'unusually' for a specific instance. For 'seldom', use 'metta ni... nai'.

It is generally neutral or positive, implying that something is special because it is rare.

Yes, to describe their behavior ('You're early, that's rare') or to say they are a 'rare person' (unique/special).

It is 珍しい. The kanji 珍 means rare or curious.

In casual speech, just say 'mezurashii'. In polite speech, 'mezurashii desu'. 'Mezurashii da' is grammatically awkward.

'Mezurashii' is common in conversation; 'mare' is more formal and used for statistical rarity.

Yes, 'mezurashii ryouri' means unusual or rare cuisine.

Change the final 'i' to 'katta': 'mezurashikatta'.

Indirectly, yes, because rare things are often valued, but 'taisetsu' or 'kichou' are better for 'precious'.