Translation guide
Describes something that stops and starts at irregular intervals, not continuous. In Japanese, this is expressed through adjectives, adverbs, and descriptive phrases depending on whether you're talking about rain, pain, work, or other phenomena.
To describe something that occurs in an on-and-off manner, with pauses in between.
A standard adjective meaning 'intermittent' or 'discontinuous'. Used for a wide range of phenomena like rain, noise, or signals.
断続的な雨が一日中降っていた。
Intermittent rain fell all day.
断続的なノイズが聞こえる。
I can hear intermittent noise.
Similar to 断続的, but often used in technical or medical contexts (e.g., intermittent fever). Slightly more formal.
間欠的な発熱が続いている。
Intermittent fever persists.
Describes something that is fragmented or comes in fits and starts, like a conversation or a signal. Often used adverbially.
途切れ途切れの会話が続いた。
The conversation continued intermittently.
ラジオの音が途切れ途切れだ。
The radio sound is intermittent.
To describe a state or action that occurs sporadically, with periods of absence.
The most common way to say 'sometimes' or 'occasionally'. While not a direct translation of 'intermittent', it often conveys the same idea in natural Japanese.
時々雨が降るでしょう。
There will be intermittent rain.
痛みは時々あります。
The pain is intermittent.
Adverbial form of 断続的. Used to modify verbs to mean 'intermittently'.
断続的に雨が降った。
It rained intermittently.
Onomatopoeic word for sporadic, scattered occurrences, often used for rain beginning to fall or people arriving one by one.
To describe work, employment, or effort that is not steady or full-time.
Means 'irregular' or 'not fixed'. Commonly used for work schedules or events that don't happen at set times.
彼は不定期の仕事をしている。
He does intermittent work.
Can also be used for intermittent effort or activity.
断続的な努力では成功できない。
You can't succeed with intermittent effort.
To describe pain or medical symptoms that come and go.
Literally 'hurts sometimes'. The most natural way to describe intermittent pain in everyday conversation.
この歯は時々痛みます。
This tooth hurts intermittently.
Used in medical contexts for symptoms that appear at intervals.
間欠的な腹痛がある。
I have intermittent abdominal pain.
断続的 (だんぞくてき) is the general term for intermittent, while 間欠的 (かんけつてき) is more technical and often used in medical or scientific contexts. In everyday speech, 断続的 is more common.
While 時々 (ときどき) means 'sometimes', it is often the most natural way to express 'intermittent' in Japanese, especially for weather, pain, or other common situations. Direct translations like 断続的 can sound stiff in casual conversation.
雨がぽつぽつ降り始めた。
Intermittent rain started to fall.