Japanese word

間々

Pronunciation

Romajimama

Meaning

  • adverbnow and then

Example

このような間違いは間々あります。ko no yō na ma chiga i wa ma ma a ri ma su

Mistakes like this happen now and then.

Illustration for 間々 (now and then)

More examples

その店の名前は、新聞で間々見かけます。so no mise no na mae wa shin bun de ma ma mi ka ke ma su

I see the name of that store in the newspaper now and then.

Core concept

It describes an occurrence that returns after pauses, making it occasional rather than constant.

Common phrases

  • 間々耳にするma ma mimi ni su ru

    hear now and then

  • 間々見られるma ma mi ra re ru

    be seen now and then

Similar words

時々tokidoki: It describes an event that happens at intervals that are not always regular.
たまにtamani: It describes an event that occurs only a small number of times.
折々oriori: It describes an event that recurs on various occasions in a formal style.
時折tokiori: It describes an event that occurs occasionally and is common in formal writing.

Definition in Japanese

ある事柄が、しばらく間を置いてたまに起こるさま。a ru koto gara ga shi ba ra ku aida o o i te ta ma ni o ko ru sa ma

Word origin

間々 (mama) uses the repeated form of 間 (ma, "interval"); in Japanese, this repetition gives the adverb the sense of something happening from time to time.

Usage tips

  • 間々 (mama) commonly appears with expressions about mistakes, delays, or other events that recur at irregular intervals.

Opposites

Word lists with this word