间或 (jiàn huò) — occasionally; sometimes

Definition

Written/formal adverb meaning 'occasionally, now and then' — much more literary than everyday 有时. Used in narrative or descriptive writing rather than conversation.

adverb
occasionallysometimes
Easily confused

Examples

  • 间或。
    Tā jiàn huò huì lái tú shū guǎn kàn shū.
    He occasionally comes to the library to read.
  • 间或。
    Tā jiàn huò tí qǐ nà duàn wǎng shì.
    She sometimes brings up that past memory.
  • 间或。
    jiàn huò Chuán lái de yīn yuè shēng dǎ pò le yè wǎn de níng jìng.
    The occasional music breaking through broke the quiet of the night.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

间jiāninterval, occasionally
或huòsometimes

间 “interval, occasionally” and 或 “sometimes” together mean now and then.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 间 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
戈戈gē
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán或huò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

或 combines 戈, a weapon shape, with 員, which supplies the sound.

Open 或 →

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