also: あいだをおいて
expression
intermittently; at intervals; after a pause
Used to describe actions or events that occur with pauses or gaps in between. Often appears in the form 間を置いて〜する or 間を置いて〜が起こる.
彼は間を置いて話し続けた。
He continued speaking after a pause.
雷が間を置いて鳴った。
Thunder rumbled intermittently.
時々 means 'sometimes' or 'occasionally', implying irregular occurrence, while 間を置いて emphasizes the presence of intervals or pauses between actions.
断続的 is an adjective meaning 'intermittent' or 'discontinuous', often used in technical contexts, whereas 間を置いて is a more colloquial expression describing the manner of an action.
A set phrase composed of 間 (interval, pause) + を (object marker) + 置いて (te-form of 置く, to put/place). Literally 'putting an interval', it has become a fixed expression meaning 'with intervals' or 'after a pause'.