jarang

Jarang is an Indonesian word meaning rare, uncommon, or infrequently. It describes something that does not occur often, or a distribution that is sparse. The term functions as an adjective when describing a noun and as an adverb when referring to the frequency of an action. In everyday usage, jarang conveys low density, limited presence, or infrequent occurrence.

Jarang can be paired with verbs or nouns to express rarity, and it appears in fixed phrases such as jarang ada (seldom available), jarang terjadi (rarely occurs), or jarang terlihat (seldom seen). The intensifying form jarang-jarang is used to emphasize sparsity or irregularity, for example, pohon-pohon itu tumbuh jarang-jarang (the trees grow sparsely) or penduduknya jarang-jarang datang (the residents come only rarely).

Common synonyms include langka (rare) and tidak sering or jarang dengan diri sendiri, while the antonyms are sering (often) and kerap (frequently). The word is widely used across Indonesian and Malay-speaking communities and shares a similar meaning in both languages.

In cultural and linguistic context, jarang often appears in prose and reporting to describe phenomena with low frequency or sparse distribution, such as wildlife sightings, seasonal availability of goods, or demographic patterns. While simple, the term helps convey a precise sense of rarity without implying value judgments.