once in a while
たまに
解説 Definition
頻繁ではないが時折、たまにという頻度を表す表現。
This phrase means sometimes, but not very often. It is used for actions or events that happen occasionally and without a regular pattern.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
"once" は「一度」、"while" は「しばらく・ある時間」。合わせて「ある程度の時間がたつ中で一度ある」→「たまに」と捉えると覚えやすいです。"sometimes" より回数が少なめで、日常会話では "every now and then" に近い感覚。"once" が入っていても「一回だけ」ではなく、間隔をあけて起こる感じに注意すると定着します。
Think of 'once' as one time and 'a while' as a period of time. Put together, it gives the feeling of something happening one time after some time passes, not very often. It helps to compare it with 'sometimes,' which usually sounds more frequent.
例文
I go to the cinema once in a while, but not every week.
たまに映画館に行くが、毎週ではない。
Once in a while, she likes to cook an elaborate dinner.
たまに、彼女は手の込んだ夕食を作るのが好きだ。
He calls his old friends once in a while to stay in touch.
彼はたまに昔の友人に電話をして連絡を取り合っている。
once in a while の類義語・関連語
once in a while の語源・成り立ち Etymology
onceはoneに由来し、whileは古英語hwil「ひと時」にさかのぼります。直訳すると「ある一つの時に一度」で、そこから「たまに」の感覚が生まれ、meanwhileやworthwhileはwhileと同根です。
Once comes from one, and while goes back to Old English hwil, meaning "a period of time." The phrase once in a while originally suggested one time during some stretch of time. From that simple time idea, it developed the meaning "occasionally"; meanwhile and worthwhile are built from the same root as while.
外部辞書で調べる
この単語を英単語クイズで覚えよう