How to say "seldom" in Japanese

• まれJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjectiveCovers the 'rare' side of 'seldom': events or cases that happen infrequently. It describes how uncommon something is, so it suits 'such cases are rare' rather than 'I seldom go there.'
  チャンスというものはいずれにしても、まれにしかない。↗

  Chances come rarely in any case.
• 少ないすくないJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveIts core sense is 'few; little; small in amount': use it when a quantity, number, or frequency is small, as in 'opportunities are few.' It is seldom the word for the adverb 'seldom' itself.
  この病気びょうきに勝かてる人ひとは少すくない。↗

  Not many survive this disease.
• 滅多にめったにJLPT N3approx.Common
  adverbThe natural adverb for 'seldom, rarely': something hardly ever happens. It is almost always paired with a negative, so 'I seldom go there' would use this word with a negative verb.
  今いま、私はめったに映画えいがを見みに行いきません。↗

  Now I seldom go to the movies.

For the adverb 'seldom' meaning 'hardly ever', use めったに with a negative; 「まれ」 describes events that are rare occurrences; 「少ない」 is an adjective for small amount or number, not a frequency adverb.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• まれrare
• 少ないすくないfew
• 滅多にめったにrarely
• まずないvery rare
• たまさかrarely