Chinese Conversation · Level 54
90 words
Chinese word
断断续续
Pronunciation
Pinyinduàn duàn xù xù
Meaning
- adverbon and off
Example
雨下得断断续续，我没带伞。yǔ xià de duàn duàn xù xù wǒ méi dài sǎn
The rain is falling on and off, and I don't have an umbrella.
More examples
他的咳嗽断断续续，应该去看医生。tā de ké sòu duàn duàn xù xù yīng gāi qù kàn yī shēng
His cough is intermittent, so he should see a doctor.
Core concept
Activity appears as separate bursts rather than one unbroken stream.
Common phrases
断断续续地说duàn duàn xù xù dì shuō
speak intermittently
断断续续地传来duàn duàn xù xù dì chuán lái
come intermittently
断断续续地哭duàn duàn xù xù dì kū
cry intermittently
Similar words
时断时续shí duàn shí xù: Stopping and starting irregularly, especially for rain, sounds, or other ongoing conditions.
时不时shí bù shí: Happening from time to time at fairly short intervals.
不时bù shí: Occurring occasionally, sometimes unexpectedly or without a fixed pattern.
Definition in Chinese
表示动作、声音或现象不是连续进行，而是间断地反复发生，常作副词修饰动词。biǎo shì dòng zuò shēng yīn huò xiàn xiàng bú shì lián xù jìn xíng ér shì jiàn duàn dì fǎn fù fā shēng cháng zuò fù cí xiū shì dòng cí
Word origin
断 (duàn, "break") is repeated before 续 (xù, "continue") is repeated, creating a balanced picture of stopping and resuming.
Usage tips
- It can modify weather, sound, or other ongoing conditions as well as deliberate actions, so its subject need not be a person.
Other meanings
- intermittentadjective
Opposites
- 连绵不断lián mián bú duàncontinuouslyadverb
- 持续不断chí xù bú duànwithout interruptionadverb