meanwhile

Compared meaning: at the same time as something else (adverb).

比较义项：与此同时；在同一时间段内（副词）。

• meanwhile 本词

  Used alone as a sentence adverb linking two events happening at the same time; the more common, neutral choice in everyday writing and speech.

  常单独作句子状语，连接同时发生的两件事；在日常书面语和口语中都是更常见、更中性的用法。

  She cooked dinner; meanwhile, he set the table.

  她做晚饭的时候，与此同时，他摆好了餐桌。

• meantime

  Almost always appears inside the fixed phrase 'in the meantime'; used alone as a bare adverb it sounds informal or slightly old-fashioned.

  几乎总是出现在固定短语 in the meantime 中；若单独作副词使用，则显得口语化或略显过时。

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

  我来做晚饭；与此同时，请你把餐桌摆好。

Meanwhile and meantime both mean 'at the same time', but meanwhile is used alone as a sentence adverb and is common in everyday writing and speech. Meantime almost always appears inside the fixed phrase 'in the meantime'; used alone, it sounds informal or slightly old-fashioned.

这两个词在“与此同时”这一义项上意思很接近，但用法习惯不同：meanwhile 常单独作句子状语使用，日常书面和口语中都很常见；meantime 则几乎总是出现在 in the meantime 这个固定搭配里，单独使用 meantime 显得比较少见、偏口语化或稍显过时。两个词都没有需要额外区分的其他义项。

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 本词

  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

  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。