稀罕
xī han · HSK 7
to value as a rarity
💎 稀 (sparse) + 罕 (seldom) = two rare characters stacked, so doubly rare
Both 稀 and 罕 independently mean rare or scarce, so 稀罕 doubles down on the idea. As a verb it means to treasure something precisely because it is hard to come by, like a 💎.
稀 — grain 禾 + rare/scattered 希
A phono-semantic compound: 禾 (grain) gives the meaning, while 希 (rare, scattered) supplies the sound and reinforces the sense. Originally described thinly scattered grain in a field, then extended generally to mean 'sparse,' 'thin,' or 'rare.'