<p><code>稀罕</code> and <code>稀奇</code> are <strong>not</strong> the same thing.</p>

<p>The verb <code>稀罕</code> means "to value"; using it as a negative therefore express disdain. The translation given of "I don't care about your money" is quite spot on. I assume you aren't asking for a "better" translation for this.</p>

<p>The adjective <strong><code>稀奇</code> means "rare", "unusual"</strong>. It is not grammatically proper <strong>in Standard Chinese</strong> to use <code>稀奇</code> as a verb in the ay you did in the question, nor does it carry a connotation of disdain by itself. I'm not sure why your dictionary translated it as "be of importance" but that is clearly wrong.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>稀奇</strong></p>
  
  <p>解釋: 稀少、奇特。熊貓長相稀奇，常令看過的人留下難忘的印象。</p>
  
  <p><sub> -- 教育部國語辭典簡編本</sub></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Note that certain dialects (notably Sichuan but perhaps also others) do use <code>稀奇</code> as a verb. In this case the intended meaning of <strong><code>稀奇</code> becomes "to cherish".</strong> It is however a decidedly non-standard usage. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-26T08:49:28.847Z
maybe it's topolectical - that's how it's used where I live...
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-26T09:03:19.293Z
@user3306356 do you live in Sichuan? It's a dialect usage.
Semaphore
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2014-06-26T09:30:48.947Z
yeah check out the edit i made to my question
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-26T09:38:12.997Z
@user3306356 I did; see my edit for a suggested translation for that usage.
Semaphore
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-26T08:47:37.933Z
2014-06-26T09:16:01.837Z
2014-06-26T09:16:01.837Z
Semaphore
<p>In Cantonese, "稀罕" carries a sense of "disdain". e.g.</p>

<p>"我唔稀罕你尐錢!" (Your money means nothing to me)</p>

<p>"邊個稀罕你尐錢呀?!" (Who cares about your wealth? / Your money means nothing to nobody! / Your money does not mean anything to anybody!)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-27T03:07:48.190Z
2014-06-27T03:07:48.190Z
Henry HO
<p>"你以为我稀奇你的东西" may only be ok in Shanghai or southeastern China.And usually be spoken in local dialect like "侬以为我稀奇侬额物事?!(Nong Yi Wei 'Wo Xi Qi Nong-E Me Zi?!)".</p>

<p>So I suggest you replace the "稀奇" with the word "稀罕" in this sentence because "稀罕" is used as verb more often.<br>
(Yeah,"稀罕" can be used as adjective that express the same meaning as "稀奇" in northern China but rarely used nowadays. e.g.:这琉璃瓶当年可是个稀罕物儿 -- The glass bottle is rare stuff at that time.)</p>

<p>And for answering your question:<br>
The translation of these two words (that represent there meaning nowadays):<br>
稀奇:[adj.] Rare<br>
稀罕:[verb.] Care<br></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-26T20:00:30.547Z
2014-06-26T20:00:30.547Z
SONIC3D
<p>稀罕 means don't care, don't think it's a big deal.</p>

<p>稀奇 means not easy to see,rare. so 以为我稀奇你的东西 is not the right way to use it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-26T08:50:08.313Z
稀奇 must be dialectical - that's how it's used where I live...
Mou某
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-26T08:09:43.530Z
2014-06-26T08:09:43.530Z
user48693
<p>In Chinese 稀罕 and 稀奇 are often used negatively to express disdain, e.g.:</p>

<p><strong>ABC</strong></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我不稀罕你的钱。 
  Wǒ bù xīhan nǐ de qián.
  I don't care about your money.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>And</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>你以为我稀奇你的东西？</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Dictionaries often translate it these as:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>be of value; 
  be of importance; 
  be appreciated</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Is there a better way to translate these?</p>

<p><strong>edit</strong>:</p>

<p>due to the number of <em>corrections</em> I'm getting instead of answers</p>

<p>here's some proof that I'm not making this up...</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/dP69A.png" alt="xiqi"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-26T09:10:11.507Z
Language is gradually changing, always. I do *feel* there's difference between the two words nowadays. You're right, 稀奇 can be a transitive verb, but currently I seldom hear that in standard Mandarin (e.g. in serious TV programs of CCTV).
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-26T12:43:50.087Z
Could you point out where does the text come from?
lgylym
<translation><topolect>
(Better) Translations of: 稀罕/稀奇?
# (Better) Translations of: 稀罕/稀奇?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-26)

In Chinese 稀罕 and 稀奇 are often used negatively to express disdain, e.g.:

**ABC**

> 我不稀罕你的钱。
> Wǒ bù xīhan nǐ de qián.
> I don't care about your money.

And

> 你以为我稀奇你的东西？

Dictionaries often translate it these as:

> be of value;
> be of importance;
> be appreciated

Is there a better way to translate these?

**edit**:

due to the number of *corrections* I'm getting instead of answers

here's some proof that I'm not making this up...

![xiqi](https://i.sstatic.net/dP69A.png)

**Tags:** translation, topolect
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Language is gradually changing, always. I do *feel* there's difference between the two words nowadays. You're right, 稀奇 can be a transitive verb, but currently I seldom hear that in standard Mandarin (e.g. in serious TV programs of CCTV).  
> **username_2**: Could you point out where does the text come from?  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-06-26. Score: 3

`稀罕` and `稀奇` are **not** the same thing.

The verb `稀罕` means "to value"; using it as a negative therefore express disdain. The translation given of "I don't care about your money" is quite spot on. I assume you aren't asking for a "better" translation for this.

The adjective **`稀奇` means "rare", "unusual"**. It is not grammatically proper **in Standard Chinese** to use `稀奇` as a verb in the ay you did in the question, nor does it carry a connotation of disdain by itself. I'm not sure why your dictionary translated it as "be of importance" but that is clearly wrong.

> **稀奇**
>
> 解釋: 稀少、奇特。熊貓長相稀奇，常令看過的人留下難忘的印象。
>
> -- 教育部國語辭典簡編本

Note that certain dialects (notably Sichuan but perhaps also others) do use `稀奇` as a verb. In this case the intended meaning of **`稀奇` becomes "to cherish".** It is however a decidedly non-standard usage.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: maybe it's topolectical - that's how it's used where I live...  
> **username_3**: @user3306356 do you live in Sichuan? It's a dialect usage.  
> **username_0**: yeah check out the edit i made to my question  
> **username_3**: @user3306356 I did; see my edit for a suggested translation for that usage.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-06-27. Score: 1

In Cantonese, "稀罕" carries a sense of "disdain". e.g.

"我唔稀罕你尐錢!" (Your money means nothing to me)

"邊個稀罕你尐錢呀?!" (Who cares about your wealth? / Your money means nothing to nobody! / Your money does not mean anything to anybody!)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-06-26. Score: 0

"你以为我稀奇你的东西" may only be ok in Shanghai or southeastern China.And usually be spoken in local dialect like "侬以为我稀奇侬额物事?!(Nong Yi Wei 'Wo Xi Qi Nong-E Me Zi?!)".

So I suggest you replace the "稀奇" with the word "稀罕" in this sentence because "稀罕" is used as verb more often.  
(Yeah,"稀罕" can be used as adjective that express the same meaning as "稀奇" in northern China but rarely used nowadays. e.g.:这琉璃瓶当年可是个稀罕物儿 -- The glass bottle is rare stuff at that time.)

And for answering your question:  
The translation of these two words (that represent there meaning nowadays):  
稀奇:[adj.] Rare  
稀罕:[verb.] Care


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-06-26. Score: 0

稀罕 means don't care, don't think it's a big deal.

稀奇 means not easy to see,rare. so 以为我稀奇你的东西 is not the right way to use it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: 稀奇 must be dialectical - that's how it's used where I live...  

---

