断続(だんぞく)

だんぞく
noun
intermittence; on and off; starting and stopping
change
1. intermittence; on and off; starting and stopping
The pattern of repeatedly stopping and starting, or occurring at intervals rather than continuously. Almost always used in the adverbial form 断続的(だんぞくてき)に.
断続的(だんぞくてき)に雨(あめ)が降(ふ)っている。
It's raining on and off.
断続的(だんぞくてき)な頭痛(ずつう)に悩(なや)まされている。
I'm troubled by intermittent headaches.
交渉(こうしょう)は断続的(だんぞくてき)に行(おこな)われ、最終的(さいしゅうてき)に合意(ごうい)に達(たっ)した。
Negotiations were held intermittently, and ultimately an agreement was reached.

A compound of 断(だん) (to cut off, interrupt) and 続(ぞく) (to continue). The word combines two opposing concepts — interruption and continuation — to describe a pattern of repeated stopping and starting.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 間欠的(かんけつてき): intermittent — more technical/scientific; used for geysers, fevers
  • 連続(れんぞく): continuous, consecutive — the antonym, meaning without interruption
  • 継続(けいぞく): continuation — sustained over time without the stopping-and-starting nuance

Usage

Most commonly appears as 断続的(だんぞくてき) (adjective) or 断続的(だんぞくてき)に (adverb). Very frequently used in weather forecasts (断続的(だんぞくてき)な雨(あめ)) and news reports.

Related Words

Antonym: 連続(れんぞく) (continuous, consecutive)
Compare: 継続(けいぞく) (continuation)
general
Added 2026.5.6 0:11 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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