滅多に一堂に会することはない (metta ni ichidō ni kaisuru koto wa nai - rarely gather together)
Grammar & Usage
How it works
This expression combines 滅多に (metta ni), meaning 'rarely' or 'seldom', with 一堂に会する (ichidō ni kaisuru), meaning 'to gather in one place' or 'to assemble'. The phrase is completed with ことはない (koto wa nai), which indicates that 'it is not the case that X' or 'there is no X', emphasizing the rarity. It describes a situation where an event or gathering of certain individuals happens very infrequently.
Sample sentences
彼らは忙しくて、滅多に一堂に会することはない。
They are busy, so it's rare for them to gather together.
このように昔の友人たちが滅多に一堂に会することはないから、今日は特別な日だ。
Since it's rare for old friends like us to gather together like this, today is a special day.
あの家族は遠方に住んでいるため、滅多に一堂に会することはない。
That family lives far away, so it's rare for them to gather together.
Quick facts
Often used with
Mnemonic
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Example
彼らは忙しくて、滅多に一堂に会することはない。
They are busy, so it's rare for them to gather together.
このように昔の友人たちが滅多に一堂に会することはないから、今日は特別な日だ。
Since it's rare for old friends like us to gather together like this, today is a special day.
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