How to say "uncommon" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 珍しいめずらしいi-adjectiveThe default word for 'uncommon' in the sense of rare or not often seen: an uncommon sight, a rare find, unusual weather. Neutral, often with a hint of curiosity or delight.
- na-adjective, no-adjectiveA loanword from English 'rare'. Covers the same ground as 珍しい — rare, uncommon, unusual — and is at home when talking about rare finds, collectibles, or an uncommon occurrence.
- 希代きたいno-adjective, na-adjectiveTakes 'uncommon' to an emphatic extreme: something so rare that it is extraordinary, even matchless. Choose it when you want to stress singular rarity rather than mere infrequency.
- 非凡ひぼんna-adjective, nounCovers 'uncommon' as 'out of the ordinary' applied to people and their abilities: an uncommonly gifted, remarkable person. It praises exceptional talent; it is not the word for a rare object or event.
- 異常いじょうna-adjective, nounSeldom the word you want for plain 'uncommon': it really means 'abnormal', a state or condition that departs from the norm, often with a negative or alarming shade. Use it for abnormality, not rarity.
Use 「珍しい」 for the everyday 'rare, not seen often'; 「レア」 as the loanword for rare finds; 希代 for emphatic, matchless rarity; 非凡 for uncommonly gifted people; and 異常 only for the abnormal, not the merely uncommon.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
