Translation guide
Describes events or actions that occur irregularly, at scattered intervals, without a fixed pattern. Japanese uses various adverbs, adjectives, and verbs to convey this idea depending on the context.
Describing events that happen occasionally and unpredictably, not continuously or regularly.
A common adjective meaning 'sporadic' or 'scattered', used for events like rain, protests, or incidents that occur here and there without pattern.
Describing things that are spread out irregularly over an area, not clustered together.
A verb meaning 'to be scattered' or 'dotted', used for physical objects like houses, trees, or stars.
湖の周りに家が点在している。
Houses are scattered sporadically around the lake.
散発的 emphasizes irregular, scattered occurrences without a pattern, while 断続的 focuses on something that stops and starts repeatedly. For rain, 散発的 suggests occasional showers, while 断続的 suggests on-and-off rain throughout a period.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'sporadic'. Choose the expression based on whether you mean irregular timing, scattered distribution, or infrequent occurrence. Using 散発的 for sparse physical distribution may sound unnatural; use 点在する or まばら instead.
散発的な雨が降っている。
Sporadic rain is falling.
散発的な抗議活動が続いている。
Sporadic protests are continuing.
Means 'intermittent' or 'on-and-off', often used for things that stop and start repeatedly, like rain or noise.
断続的な雨が一日中降っていた。
Intermittent rain fell all day.
Means 'sometimes' or 'occasionally'. A simple, everyday adverb for sporadic occurrences.
時々、彼から連絡がある。
I hear from him sporadically.
Means 'once in a while' or 'rarely', implying less frequency than 時々. Casual.
たまに映画を見に行く。
I go to the movies sporadically.
An onomatopoeic adverb suggesting scattered, sporadic occurrences, like raindrops or isolated incidents. Often used in casual speech.
雨がぽつぽつ降り始めた。
It started raining sporadically.
Similar to 点在する, meaning 'scattered here and there', often for abstract things like opinions or problems.
その地域には問題が散在している。
Problems are sporadically scattered across the region.
An adjective meaning 'sparse' or 'thinly scattered', used for distribution of objects or attendance.
観客はまばらだった。
The audience was sporadic/sparse.