occasionally; once in a while
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesadverb
occasionally; once in a while; now and then
literaryDescribes actions or events that happen infrequently or sporadically. It is slightly more formal or literary than the more common 偶尔.
Yè夜
shēn深
le了
，
wàn万
lài籁
jù俱
jì寂
，
jiàn间
huò或
chuán传
lái来
jǐ几
shēng声
quǎn犬
fèi吠
。
Late at night, it was completely silent, with only the occasional sound of a dog barking.
Tā他
zhuān专
xīn心
xiě写
zuò作
shí时
，
jiàn间
huò或
huì会
tíng停
xià下
lái来
hē喝
kǒu口
chá茶
。
When he is concentrating on writing, he occasionally stops to take a sip of tea.
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Shān山
jiān间
xiǎo小
lù路
shàng上
，
jiàn间
huò或
néng能
kàn看
dào到
yī一
liǎng两
gè个
cǎi采
yào药
de的
rén人
。
On the mountain path, you could occasionally see one or two herb gatherers.
Tā他
shuō说
huà话
shēng声
yīn音
hěn很
qīng轻
，
jiàn间
huò或
tíng停
dùn顿
yī一
xià下
，
sì似
hū乎
zài在
sī思
kǎo考
。
He spoke very softly, pausing occasionally as if in thought.