间歇 (jiànxiē) means 'to pause' or 'to have an interval' between actions or events. It is often used to describe breaks in activities, such as taking a short rest during work or having intermittent occurrences of something. This word can convey the idea of regular intervals and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
HSK 7, 16 strokes, Hard
jiànxiē(jian4xie1) T4
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May 27, 2026
间歇jiànxiē(jian4xie1)
间歇 (jiànxiē) means 'to pause' or 'to have an interval' between actions or events. It is often used to describe breaks in activities, such as taking a short rest during work or having intermittent occurrences of something. This word can convey the idea of regular intervals and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of taking breaks is often emphasized in the context of work-life balance, particularly in traditional tea ceremonies where pauses are integral to the experience. Understanding 间歇 helps appreciate the importance of pacing in daily activities.
Memory Tip
Imagine a busy train station where trains arrive and depart at regular intervals. Each time a train stops, there’s a brief pause (间歇) before the next one comes. Visualizing this busy station can help you remember that 间歇 signifies a pause or break between sequences.
About 间歇
间歇Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 间歇
Podcast: 间歇
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AI Study Notes for 间歇
Quick Contrast
间断 (jiànduàn) - use 间歇 for regular pauses, while 间断 implies a more abrupt or complete interruption.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a busy train station where trains arrive and depart at regular intervals. Each time a train stops, there’s a brief pause (间歇) before the next one comes. Visualizing this busy station can help you remember that 间歇 signifies a pause or break between sequences.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 间歇 with 休息 (xiūxí), which means 'to rest' more generally. While both imply taking a break, 间歇 emphasizes the intermittent nature of the pause. Use 间歇 when referring to scheduled or regular breaks in an activity.
HSK Study Tips
At HSK Level 7, students should focus on using 间歇 in context with other time-related vocabulary like '时间 (shíjiān)' and '间隔 (jiàngé)'. Practice forming sentences that convey the concept of intervals or pauses in various activities, enhancing your ability to discuss routines or schedules.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of taking breaks is often emphasized in the context of work-life balance, particularly in traditional tea ceremonies where pauses are integral to the experience. Understanding 间歇 helps appreciate the importance of pacing in daily activities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use 间歇 when describing a spontaneous or irregular break, which is incorrect. For example, saying '我今天工作间歇了' (Wǒ jīntiān gōngzuò jiànxiēle) is wrong; it should be '我今天工作休息了' (Wǒ jīntiān gōngzuò xiūxíle).
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 间歇
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Cultural Notes for 间歇
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of taking breaks is often emphasized in the context of work-life balance, particularly in traditional tea ceremonies where pauses are integral to the experience. Understanding 间歇 helps appreciate the importance of pacing in daily activities.
Frequently Asked Questions about 间歇
You can say, '我们需要每小时间歇五分钟' (Wǒmen xūyào měi xiǎoshí jiànxiē wǔ fēnzhōng), which means 'We need a five-minute break every hour.'
间歇 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more commonly used in written or formal speech.
Not always; use 间歇 specifically for breaks that are regular or scheduled, while 休息 is more general.
