1. That item is seldom sold in Japan.
その商品は日本ではめったに販売されていません。
The word "seldom" means infrequently, not often. Therefore this sentence is saying that you
cannot find this item in Japan very often.
2. This item is scarce in Japan.
日本では珍しいアイテムです。
The word "scarce" means rare or sparse. Therefore this sentence is saying that it is uncommon to find this item in Japan.
1. That item is seldom sold in Japan.
(その商品は日本ではあまり売られていません)
この"seldom"とは、めったに、あまりない、と言う意味です。
ですので、この表現はその商品は日本ではあまり見ることはありません、と言う意味になります。
2. This item is scarce in Japan.
(これは日本では珍しい商品です)
この"scarce"とは珍しい、希少な、と言う意味になります。
ですので、この表現はこの商品を日本で見ることは珍しい、と言う意味になります。
A. Hey, what's the big deal? Why do you keep eating all my peanut butter? It's the only thing I brought from home!
B. Oh sorry, I just love it so very much!
A. Well, then buy some at the grocery store.
B. We don't have peanut butter in Japan.
A. Ok, well, then I'll buy some when I'm back in the States and send them to you, ok?
B. Oh, thank you very much! You're the best!
A. Hey, what's the big deal? Why do you keep eating all my peanut butter? It's the only thing I brought from home!
(へい!何が問題なの?なんで私のピーナツバターを食べ続けるの?私が家から持ってきた唯一のものなのに!)
B. Oh sorry, I just love it so very much!
(あ、ごめん。とっても好きなんだ)
A. Well, then buy some at the grocery store.
(まあ、じゃあ、お店で買ってきてよ)
B. We don't have peanut butter in Japan.
(日本ではピーナツバター売ってないよ)
A. Ok, well, then I'll buy some when I'm back in the States and send them to you, ok?
(あら、わかったわ。じゃあ、アメリカに帰ったら送ってあげるわ)
B. Oh, thank you very much! You're the best!
(ありがとう!君って最高!)
When something is not readily available you can say it is "not common". You can also say things are "difficult to get hold of." meaning they are not easy to buy as they are rare.
簡単に手に入らない物を表す時は「not common(あまりない)」が使えます。
ほかに「difficult to get hold of(手に入りにくい)」と言うこともできます。めったにないので簡単には買えない、という意味です。
You'll struggle to find that item for sale in Japan
A rarity -the state or quality of being rare, infrequency, rareness, unusualness, uncommonness, singularity, uniqueness, a rare thing, especially one having particular value. Plural noun: rarities
"The rarity of the condition means that finding people to treat you will be very difficult."
"To take the morning off was a rarity for Jill."
To struggle to find something - this means that you will have some difficulty finding something.
"A rarity" -まれな事、珍しい、希少さ、特に価値のある事
複数形: rarities
"The rarity of the condition means that finding people to treat you will be very difficult."
(珍しい状況とはあなたにおごってくれる人を探すのは難しいということです)
"To take the morning off was a rarity for Jill."
(朝休みを取るなんてジルにしては珍しい)
"To struggle to find something" - 何かを探すのがとても大変
This item is uncommon in Japan. It is very difficult to find it in Japanese stores.
These products are not sold in all Japanese stores. It is very scarce in Japan.
▪ This item is uncommon in Japan. It is very difficult to find it in Japanese stores.
uncommon = out of the ordinary
This sentence is saying that the item is not well known in Japan and all stores does not sell it.
▪ These products are not sold in all Japanese stores. It is very scarce in Japan.
Scarce = something that people want but is not available everywhere.
▪ This item is uncommon in Japan. It is very difficult to find it in Japanese stores.
(この商品は日本では珍しいです。日本のお店で見つけるのはとても難しいです。)
uncommon = 普通ではない
日本で、この商品はあまり知られていなくて、全てのお店で売っていないということを言っています。
▪ These products are not sold in all Japanese stores. It is very scarce in Japan.
(これらの商品は日本のお店では売っていません。日本ではとてもまれな商品です。)
Scarce = 人々が欲しがっているものだけど、色んなところで売られていないという意味です。