Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 7: 15/21

滅多(めった)に〜ない

Hardly, Rarely, Seldom

Structure

めったに + Verb［ない］
Noun + は + めったにない

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About めったに〜ない

めったに～ない is an expression that may be translated as 'hardly', 'seldom', or 'rarely'. Originally, 滅多(めった) is a な-Adjective that means 'thoughtless', or 'reckless'. Due to this, as an adverb, 滅多(めった)に literally means 'thoughtlessly' or 'recklessly'.
めったに～ない will usually be paired with a verb in the negative form, or following a noun, and the adverbial particle は.
  • 大人(おとな)になってから駄菓子屋(だがしや)にはめったに行(い)かない。
    Ever since I became an adult. I hardly go to candy stores.
  • 親(おや)とは正月(しょうがつ)以外(いがい)にはめったに会(あ)わない。
    Other than New Years, I hardly see my parents.
  • こんなチャンスはめったにないぞ！
    A chance like this is very rare.
  • パーティーに行(い)くことはめったにない。
    I hardly do things like go to parties.
Caution
It is far more common to see めったに written without kanji, than with. However, both are used.
Fun Fact
As めったに originally means 'thoughtlessly', when appearing in a negative statement, the nuance becomes 'to not (A) thoughtlessly' (mindlessly, or aimlessly). This simply expresses that the speaker will not do (A) unintentionally, or (A) will not happen unless there is some special reason for it.
  • 私(わたし)は何(なに)か大事(おおごと)なことが起(お)きない限(かぎ)り、電話(でんわ)はめったに掛(か)けない。
    Unless something big happens, I don't mindlessly make phone calls.
  • 家(いえ)の誰(だれ)かがテレビを見(み)ていない限(かぎ)り、自分(じぶん)からはテレビをめったに見(み)ない。
    Unless someone in my house is watching TV, I don't aimlessly watch TV on my own.

Examples

  • 父(ちち)はめったにテレビを見(み)ない。

    My father rarely watches TV.

  • 彼女(かのじょ)についての悪口(わるぐち)をめったに聞(き)かない。

    I seldom hear bad things about her.

  • せっかく日本語(にほんご)を勉強(べんきょう)したけど、めったに話(はな)さないね。

    After going through all the trouble of studying Japanese, you hardly speak it.

  • 彼(かれ)はめったに忘(わす)れないのに、今日(きょう)はどうしたんだろう？

    He rarely forgets, I wonder what happened today?

  • めったに泣(な)かない彼(かれ)が泣(な)いていた。

    He, who hardly cries, was crying.

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めったに〜ない – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (3 in total)

  • matt_in_mito

    matt_in_mito

    めったに vs あまり
    Has anyone ever noticed a nuance between these two or are they basically the same?

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    Hey

    あまり is more general. It means (with negative) not much, not many. Used when you speak of degree or quantity of something.

    While めったに means rarely, seldom. So it is limited to the frequency of something.

    本をあまり読んでいない。
    I don’t read books much.

    本はめったに読まない。
    I rarely read books.

  • matt_in_mito

    matt_in_mito

    That’s great, thank you. I’ll try to start using it.

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