now and then

音标
英 [naʊ ənd ðen] 美 [naʊ ənd ðen]

翻译
偶尔，时不时，间或

词性
短语副词

用法

表示动作或事件发生得不频繁，但有时会发生。

常用在口语和书面语中，表示轻微的不规律性或间歇性。

可与动词连用，但通常用于一般现在时或一般过去时。

短语搭配

now and then + 动词原形：I visit my grandparents now and then.

now and then + 名词：We see a shooting star now and then.

now and then + 介词短语：She goes hiking now and then in the mountains.

例句

I like to go to the cinema now and then.

He calls his old friends now and then.

Now and then, I enjoy reading a good novel.

She travels abroad now and then for business.

We meet for coffee now and then.

Now and then, it rains heavily in this region.

He helps his neighbors now and then with their chores.

I eat chocolate now and then as a treat.

They visit the countryside now and then to relax.

Now and then, I think about changing my career.

词源与文化背景
短语“now and then”起源于中世纪英语，最初形式为“now and than”，意为“有时、偶尔”。它与“from time to time”和“once in a while”意义相近，用于表达时间上偶尔发生的动作或事件。