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难得 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
难得nándéseldomHSK 5, d, 21 strokes, rank #6692, Hard
难得nándérareHSK 5, d, 21 strokes, rank #6692, Hard
难得nándéhard to come byHSK 5, d, 21 strokes, rank #6692, Hard
nándé(nan2de2)nan de T2
  1. 1seldom
  2. 2rare
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March 24, 2026

难得(難得)nándé(nan2de2)

The term 难得 (nán dé) refers to something that is rare, hard to come by, or seldom encountered. It is often used to describe opportunities, experiences, or moments that are valuable due to their infrequency. Common contexts include expressing appreciation for rare events or the scarcity of certain qualities.

Strokes21Frequency#6692DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of rarity often connotes not just scarcity but also value and appreciation, such as in art or family gatherings, where special moments are cherished because they do not happen often.

Memory tip

Imagine a rare treasure chest (难) that is hard to open (得). The chest only reveals its contents once in a blue moon, reminding you of how seldom you find such treasures in life, linking the pronunciation 'nán' with '难' and 'dé' with '得'.

Meanings of 难得

nándé(nan2de2)
1seldom
2rare
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 难得

难得Simplified
難得Traditional
21Strokes
—Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#6692Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 难得

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Podcast: 难得

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AI study notes for 难得

Quick Contrast

稀有 (xīyǒu) — use 难得 when emphasizing the value of the rarity, while 稀有 focuses more on the state of being rare.

Usage Notes

Learners should note that 难得 is often used in positive contexts, emphasizing the value of rarity. It is generally informal, but can fit in semi-formal contexts. Be careful with tones; mispronouncing the second tone can change the meaning.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 难得 connects with other advanced vocabulary describing rarity or value. Students should focus on using it in sentences that highlight the significance of unique opportunities or experiences.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to use 难得 in a negative context, such as saying '这件事很难得' when referring to something unpleasant. The correct form would be to use it with positive connotations, focusing on the value of rarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 难得

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Component characters

难nándifficult (to...)
HSK 310 strokes又
View full entry
得destructural particle: used after a verb (or adjective as main verb), linking it to following phrase indicating effect, degree, possibility etc
HSK 211 strokes彳
View full entry

How to say seldom in Chinese

“seldom” in Chinese is难得nándé

The term 难得 (nán dé) refers to something that is rare, hard to come by, or seldom encountered. It is often used to describe opportunities, experiences, or moments that are valuable due to their infrequency. Common contexts include expressing appreciation for rare events or the scarcity of certain qualities.

When to use 难得

Learners should note that 难得 is often used in positive contexts, emphasizing the value of rarity. It is generally informal, but can fit in semi-formal contexts. Be careful with tones; mispronouncing the second tone can change the meaning.

难得 or something close to it

稀有 (xīyǒu) — use 难得 when emphasizing the value of the rarity, while 稀有 focuses more on the state of being rare.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is to use 难得 in a negative context, such as saying '这件事很难得' when referring to something unpleasant. The correct form would be to use it with positive connotations, focusing on the value of rarity.

Write 难得

难
得

Practice writing 难得 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar patterns of 难得

难得 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

今天的考试别提了,____我一个字都写不出来。

Don't even ask about today's exam — it was so hard I couldn't write a single word.

Example sentences for 难得 (10)

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1
被宠坏的孩子很难得到其他孩子的喜爱。

bèi chǒng huài de háizi hěn nándé dào qítā háizi de xǐ’ài。

A spoilt child is rarely popular with other children.
2
快到山顶时,我们有幸看到了难得一见的景象。

kuài dào shāndǐng shí, wǒmen yǒuxìng kàndào le nándéyíjiàn de jǐngxiàng。

As we approached the summit we were vouchsafed a rare vision.
3
这种鱼在北方难得看到.

zhè zhǒng yú zài běifāng nándé kàndào.

Such fish is rarely met with in the north country.
4
这个地区难得见到雪.

zhège dìqū nándé jiàndào xuě.

It is unusual to see snow in this region.
5
成功的风险投资有时要比它表面看起来困难得多。

chénggōng de fēngxiǎntóuzī yǒushí yào bǐ tā biǎomiàn kànqǐlai kùnnan de duō。

Successful venture capital investment is a lot harder than it sometimes looks.
6
我很快发现,付诸实践远比心中构想困难得多.

wǒ hěn kuài fāxiàn, fù Zhū shíjiàn yuǎn bǐ xīnzhōng gòuxiǎng kùnnan de duō.

I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty than I had imagined.
7
缓解电话会议上的冲突可能会困难得多.

huǎnjiě diànhuà huìyì shàng de chōngtū kěnéng huì kùnnan de duō.

In conference calls, conflict can be much more difficult to defuse.
8
我必须承认, 这比我想象的要困难得多.

wǒ bìxū chéngrèn, zhè bǐ wǒ xiǎngxiàng de yào kùnnan de duō.

I must admit, it's more difficult than I thought it would be.
9
坐失这个良机, 那是太傻了,这是一生中难得的机会.

zuò shī zhège liáng Jī, nà shì tài shǎ le, zhè shì yìshēng zhōng nándé de jīhuì.

It would be foolish to let such an opportunity slip; it's a chance of a lifetime.
10
机会难得,幸勿失之交臂.

jīhuì nándé, xìng wù shī zhī jiāo bì.

Don't let slip such a golden opportunity.

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Frequently asked questions about 难得

While 难得 is primarily used in informal contexts, it can appear in semi-formal writing when discussing valuable opportunities.

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