罕

hǎn

㓁 + 干

Definitions

hǎn (adjective) rare; seldom

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 网 represents the meaning and 干 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "bird trap". The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

About

罕 combines the net radical 罒 (a reduced form of 网) with the phonetic 干. The upper component 罒 signals the original meaning "bird trap", a long-handled net with a wide mesh. Its modern sense "rare, uncommon" is a phonetic loan: the character was borrowed for its sound to write an unrelated word.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这种天气很罕见。

Zhè zhǒng tiānqì hěn hǎnjiàn.

This kind of weather is very rare.

我罕有地起晚了。

Wǒ hǎnyǒu de qǐ wǎn le.

I rarely got up late.

他脸上露出了罕见的笑容。

Tā liǎn shang lù chū le hǎnjiàn de xiàoróng.

A rare smile appeared on his face.

这种稀有金属非常罕见。

Zhè zhǒng xīyǒu jīnshǔ fēicháng hǎnjiàn.

This rare metal is extremely uncommon.

在历史上,这种和平协议是罕有的。

Zài lìshǐ shàng, zhè zhǒng hépíng xiéyì shì hǎnyǒu de.

In history, this kind of peace treaty is rare.

如此精湛的工艺如今已世所罕见。

Rúcǐ jīngzhàn de gōngyì rújīn yǐ shì suǒ hǎnjiàn.

Such exquisite craftsmanship is rarely seen in the world today.

那个地区人迹罕至,保持了原始生态。

Nàge dìqū rénjì hǎn zhì, bǎochíle yuánshǐ shēngtài.

That area is rarely visited by people, preserving its primitive ecosystem.

能如此坦诚面对过去的人实属罕见。

Néng rúcǐ tǎnchéng miànduì guòqù de rén shí shǔ hǎnjiàn.

People who can face their past with such honesty are truly rare.

Related Characters

Component: 㓁

Component: 干

罕