verb / noun HSK 5
Traditional 間斷
to interrupt · to discontinue · intermittent · interruption
Meaning
间断 means to interrupt or break off something that was continuous, or to describe something that happens with gaps or pauses. As a noun, it refers to an interruption or break in continuity. It's commonly used to describe activities, processes, or events that stop and start rather than flowing continuously.
Usage
Often used in formal or written contexts to describe work, study, communication, or processes that have been interrupted. Can be used with 不 (bù) to emphasize continuity, as in 不间断 (uninterrupted). Native speakers use it to describe both planned breaks and unexpected interruptions.
Examples
- 01由于工作繁忙，他学习中文已经间断了几个月。, .Due to busy work, his Chinese study has been interrupted for several months.
- 02这家工厂二十四小时不间断生产。.This factory produces continuously 24 hours a day without interruption.
Characters
Common collocations
- 不间断uninterrupted, continuous
- 间断性intermittent (adjective)
- 时有间断occasionally interrupted
Antonyms
Origin
Combines 间 (gap/space) with 断 (to break), literally meaning a break in the space or time continuum, creating the sense of interruption or discontinuity.