드물다
deumulda[tɯmuɭda̠]
The English phrase "rare" is translated into Korean using 드물다 (deumulda) or 희귀(稀貴)하다.
Meaning: very uncommon (adj)
Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 드물다 | deumulda | [tɯmuɭda̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 희귀(稀貴)하다 | huigwihada |
드물다 is used to describe the frequency of occurrences or the scarcity of certain types of people. It describes how often an event or a type of person appears, rather than the physical rarity of a tangible object.
Which one should you use?
드물다 is used for the frequency of occurrences or people, while 희귀하다 is typically used for rare objects, species or materials.
How does it change in a sentence?
드물다 is an adjective that functions as a descriptive verb in Korean, meaning it can be used as a predicate without a separate copula in many sentence structures.
How do you pronounce it?
deumulda
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'rare' can describe how a steak is cooked, Korean uses the word 레어 (a loanword from English) or describes the meat as 덜 익은 meaning 'less cooked'.
- When describing an event as 'rare' using 드물다, Koreans often use the phrase 가뭄에 콩 나듯 which literally means 'like beans sprouting during a drought'.
- While 희귀하다 is used for rare objects, the term 희귀 is composed of Hanja characters meaning 'sparse' and 'precious', linking scarcity directly to value.
Examples in context
- 피카소 같은 화가는 드물다.Such painters as Picasso are rare.This sentence is useful for showing how to describe the rarity of a person using 드물다.Tatoeba #507565 by orzage, translation #34831 by CM
- 이 그림은 희귀한 예술품입니다.This painting is a rare piece of art.
- 그런 기회는 드문 일입니다.Such opportunities are rare.
- 이 옷은 정말 희귀해.This outfit is really rare.
- 이런 디자인은 정말 드물다.ireon dijain-eun jeongmal deumulda.This kind of design is really rare.
- 그가 화를 내는 일은 드물다.geuga hwareul naeneun ireun deumulda.It is rare for him to get angry.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rare” translations and entries 드물다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
