How to say 'Rare' or 'Grateful' in Japanese | 有り難い

word

Meaning

Rare, Grateful

Reading

Kanji

有Exist 難Difficult

Explanation

The Japanese adjective '有り難い (ありがたい)' has two primary meanings. The first and most common meaning is 'grateful' or 'thankful', expressing deep appreciation for something received or experienced. For example: I am grateful for your help「あなたの助けは有り難い」(あなたのたすけはありがたい). The second meaning is 'rare' or 'precious', referring to something that is uncommon or hard to come by. For example: Such kindness is rare「そのような親切は有り難い」(そのようなしんせつはありがたい). The word originates from the idea that something is so rare or precious that it feels like a blessing, hence the dual meanings. It is often used in formal or heartfelt contexts to express gratitude or acknowledge the rarity of a situation.

Part Of Speech

adjective

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

3303

Composition

kanji-hiragana

Handwriting