interim

Compared meaning: lasting only a short time, temporary (adjective).

比较义项：短暂的；临时的（形容词）。

• passing

  Describes something fleeting or transient, often an abstract feeling, thought, or phase, rather than a temporary job or arrangement; sounds more literary.

  形容转瞬即逝的事物，常用来修饰情绪、念头或阶段等抽象事物，而不是临时的工作或安排；语气较为文学化。

  He felt a passing twinge of guilt but quickly forgot about it.

  他感到一阵转瞬即逝的愧疚，但很快就忘记了。

• temporary

  The general, neutral word for anything lasting only a limited time; used for jobs, states, and objects without implying a specific reason or transitional purpose.

  是最普通、中性的说法，泛指任何只持续有限时间的事物，可用于工作、状态和物品，不暗示具体原因或过渡目的。

  The company gave her a temporary desk near the window.

  公司给了她一张靠窗的临时办公桌。

• interim 本词

  Specifically describes something filling the gap while a permanent solution or appointment is being arranged, often used with roles, governments, or measures.

  专指在正式方案或人选确定之前用来填补空缺的安排，常用于职位、政府或措施等场合。

  The interim manager will run the office until a permanent replacement is hired.

  临时经理将负责管理办公室，直到聘请到正式接替者。

• makeshift

  Describes a crude, improvised substitute put together from whatever materials are available, usually out of necessity rather than planning.

  形容用现有材料临时拼凑而成的粗糙替代品，通常出于无奈而非事先安排。

  After the storm, they used a makeshift raft made of barrels to cross the river.

  暴风雨过后，他们用木桶做的简易木筏渡过了河。

Passing, temporary, interim, and makeshift mean not lasting long, but differ. Passing describes a fleeting feeling. Temporary means lasting a limited time. Interim fills a gap before a solution. Makeshift is an improvised substitute. Not compared: passing's 'briefly' or 'grade' senses; interim's noun use.

这四个词都可表示“暂时的、不会长久的”，但语气和用法不同：passing 强调转瞬即逝，多用于修饰情绪、念头或阶段，语气较文学化；temporary 是最普通、中性的说法，可用于工作、状态、物品等各种场合；interim 专指在正式方案或人选确定之前的过渡安排；makeshift 强调因缺乏合适材料而临时拼凑、较为粗糙的替代品。这里不比较 passing 表示“顺便提及的”（in passing）或“（考试）及格的”（a passing grade）等用法，也不比较 interim 作名词表示“过渡期”（in the interim）的用法。

Compared meaning: the time between two events (noun).

比较义项：两件事之间的这段时间（名词）。

• meanwhile

  Used mainly as a sentence adverb at the start of a clause, showing what happens during the same period; rarely stands alone as a noun.

  主要用作句首副词，置于分句开头，表示与前一事件同时发生的情况；很少单独作名词使用。

  She cooked dinner; meanwhile, he set the table.

  她做了晚饭；与此同时，他摆好了餐桌。

• meantime

  Almost always appears in the fixed phrase in the meantime, functioning as the object of the preposition in, unlike meanwhile which opens a clause.

  几乎总是出现在固定短语 in the meantime 中，作介词 in 的宾语，而不像 meanwhile 那样用于句首连接分句。

  I'll cook dinner; in the meantime, please set the table.

  我会去做晚饭；与此同时，请把餐桌摆好。

• interim 本词

  More formal; usually functions as an adjective before a noun (interim job, interim report) to mean temporary or provisional during the gap, not a free-standing noun.

  更正式，通常作形容词放在名词前（如 interim job、interim report），表示过渡期间的临时或暂代性质，而不是单独作名词。

  She took an interim job while searching for something permanent.

  在寻找一份长期工作的同时，她先做了一份过渡性的工作。

Meanwhile, meantime, and interim all refer to the time between two events, but their grammar differs. Meanwhile usually starts a sentence as an adverb. Meantime appears mainly in the phrase 'in the meantime'. Interim is more formal, an adjective before a noun, not standing alone.

这三个词都表示两件事之间的这段间隔时间，但语法用法和正式程度不同：meanwhile 常作句首副词，连接两个分句；meantime 几乎只出现在固定短语 in the meantime 中，作介词宾语；interim 更正式，常作形容词修饰名词（如 interim job、interim report），表示过渡期间的临时状态，而不单独作名词使用。