hei1 jau5希有
Jyutpinghei1 jau5
Yalehēi yáuh
Definition
Rare, scarce, or uncommon.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
While 希有 is understood, it is significantly less common in spoken Cantonese than 罕有. Native speakers almost exclusively use 罕有 to describe things that are uncommon or scarce. Using 希有 can sound slightly more literary or influenced by other dialects.
Examples
This type of flower is very rare, it is hard to find.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 希有 with 稀有, which is the standard written form in Mandarin. In Cantonese, 罕有 is the preferred term for both spoken and written contexts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
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Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
