hope · rare

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 希 relates to hope and rarity; its on-reading is き.
• Basic usage: 希望(きぼう) means hope or preference, while 希少(きしょう) means rare or scarce.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• What is wanted and what is rare
  • 希望する時間 means one's preferred time, as entered on an application form. 希望を捨てなかった means did not give up hope.
  • 希少な植物 means a rare plant, while 資料の希少性 means the rarity of the material. Here, 希 appears in words about being uncommon rather than hoping.