seldom

/ˈseldəm/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈseldəm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsel-dəm/ (ame, mw)

seldom — adverb

1. used to say that something happens very rarely, with long periods between each o

1.副詞C1
釋義

used to say that something happens very rarely, with long periods between each occasion when it does happen

例句

Nia seldom arrives late for class, so her teacher was surprised to see her walk in at nine fifteen.

seldom + main verb: placed before the verb

The winter mornings here are seldom warm enough for an outdoor breakfast.

be + seldom: placed after the verb 'be'

同義詞
  • rarely

    more common in everyday speech; interchangeable with seldom in most contexts

  • hardly ever

    more informal and slightly stronger in meaning

  • infrequently

    more formal and less common; emphasises wide time gaps between events

反義詞
  • often

    frequent occurrence

  • frequently

    regular occurrence, slightly more formal than often

文法句型

seldom + main verb

be + seldom

Seldom + auxiliary + subject + verb

用法筆記

When seldom begins a clause, the subject and auxiliary verb swap positions (inversion), as in 'Seldom have we seen…' This pattern is formal and more common in writing than in everyday speech. In informal conversation, 'rarely' or 'hardly ever' are more natural alternatives.

常見錯誤

❌I seldom not go to the gym.
✅I seldom go to the gym.
💡seldom already carries a negative meaning, so do not add 'not' or 'never' to the same clause.
❌She goes seldom to the cinema.
✅She seldom goes to the cinema.
💡seldom normally comes before the main verb, not at the end of the clause.

seldom — adjective