occasionally; now and then; sometimes
Indicates that something happens from time to time, but not frequently. Often used in written or slightly formal contexts.
Occasionally, as if remembering, he talks about the old days.
In this region, it sometimes snows.
This machine occasionally malfunctions.
Misunderstandings like that are occasionally seen.
しばしば implies a higher frequency ('often') than 間々, which points to occasional, not frequent, occurrences.
間々 (まま) means 'occasionally', while 儘 (まま) after a noun or verb means 'as it is, unchanged' (as in そのまま), and the two are easily confused when written only in hiragana.
Kana spelling is standard; kanji forms 間々 and 間間 are rare and may be confused with other readings.
Rare kanji form; easily misread as あいだあいだ or かんかん.
Rare kanji form; easily misread as あいだあいだ or かんかん.
Derived from reduplication of 間 (ma, 'interval, space'), indicating intermittent occurrence. The kana spelling まま is now standard.