‘断续’ is an adjective meaning ‘intermittent’ or ‘on-and-off’—describing something that starts and stops repeatedly, with gaps in between. The first character 断 (duàn) means ‘to break’ or ‘to interrupt’, while the second 续 (xù) means ‘to continue’ or ‘to resume’. Together, they form a compound that captures the idea of fragmented continuity: not steady or constant, but recurring in fits and starts.

This word is commonly used to describe sounds (e.g., a sputtering radio signal), physical actions (e.g., coughing), natural phenomena (e.g., rain showers), or even abstract processes like attention or effort. It often appears before nouns (e.g., 断续的咳嗽) or after verbs like 是 or 显得. While it can occasionally function adverbially (e.g., 断续传来), its primary role is adjectival. It carries a neutral, descriptive tone—neither positive nor negative—and is standard in both spoken and written Mandarin.