intermittent

Compared meaning: not happening in a steady, regular pattern (adjective).

比较义项：不规则、不均匀或断断续续地发生（形容词）。

• irregular

  The broadest, most neutral term for something lacking a steady or even pattern — in rhythm, timing, or shape; commonly used for body rhythms (heartbeat, breathing) or schedules, without necessarily implying repeated stopping and starting.

  含义最广、最中性的词，指节奏、时间或形状上缺乏稳定、均匀的规律；常用于描述身体节律（如心跳、呼吸）或日程安排，不一定表示反复的时断时续。

  His heartbeat was irregular, so the doctor ordered more tests.

  他的心跳不规则，所以医生安排了更多检查。

• sporadic

  Emphasizes scattered, occasional occurrences with no predictable pattern, suggesting isolated instances rather than a rhythmic on-off cycle; often used for brief, infrequent bursts of activity.

  强调零星、偶尔发生，没有可预测的规律，指的是孤立的个别情况，而不是有节奏的时断时续；常用于描述短暂、不频繁的活动。

  The rain was sporadic, stopping and starting all afternoon.

  雨断断续续下得很零星，整个下午时下时停。

• intermittent 本词

  Emphasizes a recurring stop-start pattern that continues over a period of time, alternating between happening and not happening; typically used for ongoing things like signals, connections, or pain.

  强调在一段时间内反复出现的时断时续的模式，在“发生”与“不发生”之间交替；通常用于持续存在的事物，如信号、连接或疼痛。

  The Wi-Fi connection has been intermittent all afternoon at home.

  家里的Wi-Fi连接整个下午都时断时续。

Irregular, sporadic, and intermittent all describe an uneven pattern, but they differ. Irregular is the broadest word, for uneven rhythm or timing, like a heartbeat. Sporadic stresses scattered, unpredictable events, like isolated bursts of activity. Intermittent stresses a repeated stop-start pattern, like a signal.

这三个词都可以形容“不按稳定规律出现或持续”的状态，但侧重点不同：irregular 含义最广，强调节奏、形状或时间上的不均匀，不一定指时断时续；sporadic 强调零星、偶尔发生，难以预测，常指孤立的个别情况；intermittent 强调反复地时断时续，一停一续地持续一段时间。