1.
intermittent; on and off; sporadic
Occurring at irregular intervals, repeatedly stopping and starting. Used to describe phenomena like rain, noise, or ongoing situations that come and go.
断続的に雨が降った。
It rained intermittently.
工事の音が断続的に聞こえてくる。
The sound of construction can be heard on and off.
今週は断続的な雨が続き、洗濯物が乾かなかった。
This week the intermittent rain continued, and the laundry wouldn't dry.
USAGE:
Most commonly used in the adverbial form 断続的に. Frequently appears in weather reports and news broadcasts. The opposite is 継続的 (continuous) or 連続的 (continuous, successive).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 断続的に降る (to rain intermittently)
- 断続的な渋滞 (intermittent traffic jam)
- 断続的に続く (to continue intermittently)
RELATED WORDS:
- 継続的: continuous, ongoing
- 間欠的: intermittent (more technical)
- 散発的: sporadic