(hǎn) - rare & scarce

Tone 3

hǎn | 7 strokes | radical: 冖

· hǎn

rare;

scarce;

seldom;

a net for catching birds;

also used as a surname.

rarescarceseldom

Usage highlights

rareseldomrare treasurerarely seenrare diseaserare species

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • This is a rare occurrence (罕见).
  • I seldom see him (罕见他).
  • This is a rare treasure (罕世之宝).
  • He is a rare talent (罕有的天才).

Collocations

  • rare(罕见)
  • seldom(罕有)
  • rare treasure(罕宝)
  • rarely seen(罕睹)
  • rare disease(罕病)
  • rare species(罕种)

Idioms

  • Rare as morning stars(寥若晨星)
  • Once in a blue moon(千载难逢)
  • A rare visitor(稀客)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to a net for catching birds, later extended to mean 'rare' or 'seldom'.
  • Used in classical texts to describe things that are uncommon or infrequent.
  • Appears in historical records as both a common word and a surname.

FAQ