i-adjective
The core modern meaning: something is not often seen, does not often happen, or stands out as unusual. Can be neutral or mildly curious depending on context.
庭に珍しい鳥が来ていた。
A rare bird had come into the garden.
彼が遅刻
It's unusual for him to be late.
i-adjective
Used when something feels new, unfamiliar, or novel to the person experiencing it, often with a sense of interest or curiosity.
子どもたちは初めて見る雪が珍しくて、外へ飛び出した。
The children found the snow, which they were seeing for the first time, so novel that they ran outside.
外国の市場は彼女には何もかも珍しかった。
Everything in the foreign market felt new and unfamiliar to her.
i-adjective
Rare older or literary use meaning admirable, splendid, or precious. In ordinary modern Japanese, 珍しい usually means 'rare' or 'unusual,' not simply 'nice.'
古い用法では、「珍しい」が「すばらしい」「大切な」という意味で説明されることがある。
In older usage, 珍しい is sometimes explained as meaning 'splendid' or 'precious.'