hei1 siu2稀少
Jyutpinghei1 siu2
Yalehēi síu
Definition
Rare, scarce, or sparsely occurring.
neutraldescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the scarcity or infrequency of something, often used in formal or descriptive contexts to highlight that an occurrence is not common. While it describes rarity, it is distinct from 罕見, which implies something is seldom seen or encountered due to its unique nature. You will frequently encounter this in written descriptions of environments or populations.
Examples
This kind of bird is very rare in Hong Kong.
That place is sparsely populated, it is very quiet.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 少, which is a general quantifier for small amounts. Use 稀少 when emphasizing the rarity or low density of something, rather than just a small quantity of items.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
