時折・時おり・時折り|ときおりtokiori[0]heiban (flat)

1. adverbsometimes; at intervals; occasionally; on occasion; from time to time
   私は時ときおり学校がっこうで彼かれに会あう。↗

   I meet him at school now and then.

• Synonym時々ときどきNeutralThe everyday word for 'sometimes' and the most common choice in speech; it swaps freely with 「時折」, which is more written and has a literary flavor.
• Synonym折々おりおりWrittenWritten style; now and then, from time to time, or the character of each season, as in 「四季折々」.
• Synonym時としてときとしてWrittenWritten; 'at times, in some cases', as in 「時として失敗する」; leans toward things that can happen on occasion.
• Synonym時たまときたまNeutralOnce in a while, at intervals, as in 「時たま会う」; common in speech as well, where 「時折」 would sound written.
• Related往々おうおうWrittenWritten; 'often, as a rule', as in 「往々にしてある」; implies a higher frequency than 「時折」.
• Related間々ままWrittenWritten; now and then, mostly in the set phrase 「間々ある」, as in 「そういうことも間々ある」.
• Related折り節おりふしWrittenWritten and archaic in tone; occasionally, at times, or the season itself.
• Related往々にしておうおうにしてWrittenWritten; 'often, as is often the case', as in 「往々にして失敗する」; typically flags an undesirable tendency that tends to recur.
• Antonym常につねにNeutralAlways, constantly; the direct opposite of the occasional 「時折」.
• Antonym絶えずたえずWrittenWritten; ceaselessly, without letup — the opposite of the on-and-off 「時折」.

For 'occasionally, now and then' in written prose, use 「時折」, as in 「時折雨が降る」. In everyday speech prefer 「時々」 or 「時たま」. For a tendency that often occurs, use 「往々にして」; the opposites are 「常に」 and 「絶えず」.

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

1. 時々ときどき。時とき偶たま。たまに。