How to say "intermittent" in Japanese

• 間欠かんけつ
  nounNames the state of being intermittent — 'intermittence' — rather than describing a thing directly, so it is seldom the word you want when translating the adjective 'intermittent' in a sentence.
• 断続的だんぞくてき
  na-adjectiveThe plain descriptive adjective: something that starts and stops repeatedly, as with rain or applause, without saying anything about why it pauses. This is usually the safest choice for 'intermittent'.
  断続的だんぞくてきですが、もう２、３ヶ月かげつになります。↗

  It's been intermittent for 2 or 3 months.
• 間欠的かんけつてき
  na-adjectiveThe adjective built on 間欠, covering the same idea as 断続的; it is less common and tends to turn up in technical or medical description of things that occur at intervals.
• 途切れ途切れとぎれとぎれ
  no-adjective, na-adjectiveReally means 'broken; interrupted; disconnected': something that keeps cutting out, like a voice or signal over a poor connection. For plain 'intermittent' it fits only when that breaking-off is the point.

Use 断続的 or 間欠的 for the plain adjective 'intermittent', 間欠 when naming the state itself, and 「途切れ途切れ」 when the emphasis falls on something repeatedly breaking off, such as a voice or signal.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 間欠かんけつintermittence
• 断続的だんぞくてきintermittent
• 間欠的かんけつてきintermittent
• 途切れ途切れとぎれとぎれbroken
• 陣々じんじんintermittent