Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Rarely" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "rarely", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
めったに
めったに (mettani)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
滅多に
めったに (mettani)
N2 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "rarely" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between めったに and 滅多に.
In Japanese, めったに (めったに (mettani)) is typically associated with "rarely, seldom" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Always used with a negative verb.
On the other hand, 滅多に (めったに (mettani)) maps to "rarely, seldom" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents An adverb that must always be followed by a negative verb or phrase. A literal translation of "rarely" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "めったに"
彼はめったに外食しない。
He rarely eats out.
Bilingual Context for "滅多に"
彼は滅多に病気にならない。
He rarely gets sick.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼は ＿＿＿ 外食しない。" (Meaning: "He rarely eats out.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "めったに" fits here because it means "rarely, seldom" in the context of: "He rarely eats out.". "滅多に" represents "rarely, seldom".