Hello, I’m Kodak.
Suppose someone asks what you do on weekends.
週末は時々映画を見ます。
Shūmatsu wa tokidoki eiga o mimasu.
I sometimes watch movies on weekends.
Or perhaps you hear:
彼とは時々連絡を取っています。
Kare to wa tokidoki renraku o totte imasu.
I keep in touch with him from time to time.
The basic translation looks simple: 時々 = sometimes.
The easiest image is:
an event appears at several separate points on a timeline, with gaps between them.
It happens more than once, but not regularly enough to call it constant or highly frequent.
時々 (tokidoki) is a frequency adverb meaning:
・sometimes
・occasionally
・from time to time
・at times
It describes something that happens on some occasions, with intervals when it does not happen.
In this article, you will learn:
② how to pronounce and write it
③ why the second 時 is pronounced どき
④ where to put 時々 in a sentence
⑤ the differences between 時々, いつも, たいてい, よく, たまに, and めったに
⑥ why “sometimes,” “sometime,” and “some time” require different Japanese expressions
⑦ natural examples, weather-forecast usage, and common beginner mistakes
What Does 時々 (Tokidoki) Mean in Japanese?
時々 means that an event, action, or condition occurs on certain occasions rather than all the time.
Hiragana: ときどき
Romaji: tokidoki
Part of speech: mainly an adverb; also a noun in a less common use
Main meaning: sometimes / occasionally / from time to time
私は時々料理をします。
Watashi wa tokidoki ryōri o shimasu.
I sometimes cook.
この電車は時々遅れます。
Kono densha wa tokidoki okuremasu.
This train is sometimes late.
時々、昔の友達を思い出します。
Tokidoki, mukashi no tomodachi o omoidasu.
From time to time, I remember an old friend.
It can describe an occasional habit:
時々泳ぎます。 — I sometimes swim.
It can also describe an event that happens intermittently:
時々停電します。 — The power goes out sometimes.
The Core Image of 時々: Separate Occasions with Gaps
Imagine one month represented by a line.
— no movie —
Day 8 ● watch a movie
— no movie —
Day 19 ● watch a movie
— no movie —
Day 28 ● watch a movie
Several occurrences separated by intervals
⇒ 時々映画を見る
The individual event appears more than once, but there are meaningful gaps between occurrences.
ずっと ⇒ one state continues like an unbroken line
時々 ⇒ separate events appear like dots along the line
It rained continuously yesterday.
⇒ One continuing period.
昨日は時々雨が降った。
It rained from time to time yesterday.
⇒ The rain started and stopped on separate occasions.
The event may happen twice one week, not at all the next week, and once the week after. It simply occurs on some occasions.
How Often Is 時々?
時々 does not have a fixed numerical percentage.
Its frequency depends on:
・the time period being discussed
・the speaker’s personal standard
・what counts as “often” in that situation
・the expressions being contrasted
時々海外旅行をします。
Tokidoki kaigai ryokō o shimasu.
I sometimes travel abroad.
This might mean once every year or two.
仕事中、時々メールを確認します。
Shigotochū, tokidoki mēru o kakunin shimasu.
I check my email from time to time while working.
This might mean several times in one day.
The word tells us the event occurs only on some occasions within the relevant frame. Context tells us the size of that frame.
How to Pronounce 時々
Hiragana: ときどき
Romaji: tokidoki
Mora: と・き・ど・き (4 morae)
Pronounce each mora clearly and evenly:
き — ki
ど — do
き — ki
Together: to-ki-do-ki
The initial t sound in the repeated second element becomes voiced:
とき + とき → ときどき
toki + toki → tokidoki
What Does the Symbol 々 Mean?
The symbol 々 is called an iteration mark. It tells the reader to repeat the preceding kanji.
= 時 + repeated 時
= 時時 in an expanded form
= ときどき
The repeated kanji does not always keep exactly the same pronunciation. In 時々, rendaku changes the second reading to どき.
You can also write it entirely in hiragana as ときどき.
Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana
Common in ordinary writing.
Hiragana: ときどき
Also completely natural, especially in beginner materials or softer writing.
Katakana: トキドキ
Possible for design or emphasis, but not the normal spelling.
How to Use 時々 in a Basic Sentence
The most useful beginner pattern is:
私は時々テレビを見ます。
Watashi wa tokidoki terebi o mimasu.
I sometimes watch television.
父は時々電車で会社に行きます。
Chichi wa tokidoki densha de kaisha ni ikimasu.
My father sometimes goes to work by train.
私たちは時々このレストランで食事をします。
Watashitachi wa tokidoki kono resutoran de shokuji o shimasu.
We sometimes eat at this restaurant.
時々行きます。
I sometimes go.
Do not add に in the ordinary adverbial pattern.
Where Does 時々 Go in a Japanese Sentence?
Japanese word order is flexible, but several placements are especially natural.
1. After the Topic
私は時々本を読みます。
Watashi wa tokidoki hon o yomimasu.
I sometimes read books.
2. At the Beginning of the Sentence
時々、一人で散歩します。
Tokidoki, hitori de sanpo shimasu.
Sometimes, I take a walk by myself.
3. Before the Part You Want to Associate with the Frequency
日曜日は家で時々仕事をします。
Nichiyōbi wa ie de tokidoki shigoto o shimasu.
On Sundays, I sometimes work at home.
Sentence-initial 時々 frames the whole statement as an occasional event. Placing it after the topic is the safest neutral pattern for beginners.
時々 + Present Form: An Occasional Habit or General Pattern
Japanese commonly uses the non-past form for repeated habits and general tendencies.
sometimes do / occasionally happens
朝ごはんを時々食べません。
Asagohan o tokidoki tabemasen.
I sometimes do not eat breakfast.
このパソコンは時々止まる。
Kono pasokon wa tokidoki tomaru.
This computer sometimes freezes.
仕事で時々英語を使います。
Shigoto de tokidoki Eigo o tsukaimasu.
I sometimes use English at work.
時々朝ごはんを食べない。
Sometimes I do not eat breakfast.
This differs from あまり朝ごはんを食べない, which means you do not eat breakfast very often overall.
時々 + Past Form: Several Occasions in a Past Period
学生のころ、時々徹夜しました。
Gakusei no koro, tokidoki tetsuya shimashita.
When I was a student, I occasionally stayed up all night.
旅行中、時々雨が降りました。
Ryokōchū, tokidoki ame ga furimashita.
It rained from time to time during the trip.
子どものころは時々祖父の家に泊まりました。
Kodomo no koro wa tokidoki sofu no ie ni tomarimashita.
When I was a child, I sometimes stayed at my grandfather’s house.
Use expressions such as 三回 or 月に二回 when the number matters.
時々～ことがある: “There Are Times When…”
A very natural pattern is:
There are times when…
Sometimes…
時々眠れないことがあります。
Tokidoki nemurenai koto ga arimasu.
Sometimes I cannot sleep.
このアプリは時々動かなくなることがある。
Kono apuri wa tokidoki ugokanaku naru koto ga aru.
This app sometimes stops working.
忙しいと、時々昼ごはんを食べる時間がないことがあります。
Isogashii to, tokidoki hirugohan o taberu jikan ga nai koto ga arimasu.
When I am busy, there are times when I do not have time for lunch.
However, the combination is natural when the speaker emphasizes that a certain situation arises on some occasions:
時々眠れません。 — I sometimes cannot sleep.
眠れないことがあります。 — There are times when I cannot sleep.
時々眠れないことがあります。 — This occasional situation does happen from time to time.
時々は: Emphasizing “At Least Sometimes”
The particle は can add contrast.
時々は休んだほうがいいですよ。
Tokidoki wa yasunda hō ga ii desu yo.
You should take a break once in a while.
時々は家族に電話してください。
Tokidoki wa kazoku ni denwa shite kudasai.
Please call your family from time to time.
“You do not need to do it constantly, but at least on some occasions…”
時々休む neutrally reports occasional rest. 時々は休む highlights occasional rest in contrast with always working.
How to Ask About Frequency
To ask how often something happens, use expressions such as:
How often do you…?
よく～ますか。
Do you often…?
どのくらい～ますか。
How often / how much do you…? — interpretation depends on the verb
A: どのくらい映画を見ますか。
Dono kurai eiga o mimasu ka.
How often do you watch movies?B: 時々見ます。
Tokidoki mimasu.
I watch them sometimes.
A: よく外食しますか。
Yoku gaishoku shimasu ka.
Do you eat out often?B: いいえ、時々です。
Iie, tokidoki desu.
No, only sometimes.
A: 料理する？ — Do you cook?
B: 時々。 — Sometimes.
The polite short answer 時々です is also possible when the omitted activity is clear.
Japanese Frequency Scale
Frequency words overlap and do not correspond to exact percentages. Still, the following order is useful for beginners.
always / every time
↓
たいてい
usually / in most cases
↓
よく
often / frequently
↓
時々
sometimes / from time to time
↓
たまに
occasionally / once in a while
↓
あまり～ない
not often / not very much
↓
めったに～ない
rarely / hardly ever
↓
全然～ない
not at all / never in the stated context
Speakers may choose different words for the same real-world count depending on what they expected, the activity, and what they are comparing it with.
The Japan Foundation’s beginner materials place 時々 below よく and above low-frequency negative expressions such as あまり～ない and ほとんど～ない.
時々 vs いつも: Sometimes vs Always
The action happens every time, habitually, or in the speaker’s normal pattern.
時々
The action happens only on some occasions, with gaps.
朝はいつもコーヒーを飲みます。
Asa wa itsumo kōhī o nomimasu.
I always drink coffee in the morning.
朝は時々コーヒーを飲みます。
Asa wa tokidoki kōhī o nomimasu.
I sometimes drink coffee in the morning.
But compared with 時々, いつも presents the action as the normal or consistent pattern.
時々 vs たいてい: Sometimes vs Usually
usually / generally / in most cases
時々
sometimes / on some occasions
休みの日はたいてい家にいます。
Yasumi no hi wa taitei ie ni imasu.
I am usually at home on my days off.
休みの日は時々友達と出かけます。
Yasumi no hi wa tokidoki tomodachi to dekakemasu.
I sometimes go out with friends on my days off.
昼ごはんはたいてい自分で作りますが、時々外で食べます。
I usually make my own lunch, but sometimes I eat out.
時々 vs よく: Sometimes vs Often
often / frequently; the event is a noticeable or common pattern
時々
sometimes; the event occurs, but less frequently or less regularly
私はよく図書館に行きます。
Watashi wa yoku toshokan ni ikimasu.
I often go to the library.
私は時々図書館に行きます。
Watashi wa tokidoki toshokan ni ikimasu.
I sometimes go to the library.
For someone who almost never leaves home, twice a month may feel よく. For someone who used to go every day, it may feel 時々.
Frequency words reflect viewpoint as well as count.
時々 vs たまに: What Is the Difference?
These are close and often interchangeable.
sometimes / from time to time
Neutral and broadly usable; often slightly more frequent than たまに.
たまに
occasionally / once in a while
Often suggests a rarer event and sounds conversational.
時々母に電話します。
Tokidoki haha ni denwa shimasu.
I call my mother from time to time.
たまに母に電話します。
Tama ni haha ni denwa shimasu.
I call my mother once in a while.
However, たまに often feels closer to “once in a while,” so it commonly suggests fewer occasions than neutral 時々.
I exercise sometimes.
⇒ Occasional activity; neutral statement.
忙しいですが、たまに運動します。
I am busy, but I exercise once in a while.
⇒ The opportunity feels relatively rare.
時々 vs めったに～ない: Sometimes vs Rarely
The event does happen on some occasions.
めったに + negative
The event almost never happens.
私は時々お酒を飲みます。
Watashi wa tokidoki osake o nomimasu.
I sometimes drink alcohol.
私はめったにお酒を飲みません。
Watashi wa metta ni osake o nomimasen.
I rarely drink alcohol.
めったに行かない — rarely go
めったに起こらない — rarely happens
Memorize it as a negative pattern.
時々 vs あまり～ない and ほとんど～ない
sometimes go
あまり行かない
do not go often
ほとんど行かない
hardly ever go
その店には時々行きます。
Sono mise ni wa tokidoki ikimasu.
I sometimes go to that shop.
その店にはあまり行きません。
Sono mise ni wa amari ikimasen.
I do not go to that shop very often.
その店にはほとんど行きません。
Sono mise ni wa hotondo ikimasen.
I hardly ever go to that shop.
時々行く confirms that visits occur.
あまり行かない emphasizes that visits are not frequent.
The objective frequency may overlap, but the communicative focus differs.
時々 vs 時折 and 時には
neutral, common “sometimes”
時折 (tokiori)
occasionally / at times; can sound slightly literary or descriptive
時には (toki ni wa)
at times / sometimes; often highlights an exception or contrast
時々一人になりたい。
Tokidoki hitori ni naritai.
Sometimes I want to be alone.
時折、冷たい風が吹いた。
Tokiori, tsumetai kaze ga fuita.
A cold wind blew from time to time.
時には失敗することもあります。
Toki ni wa shippai suru koto mo arimasu.
There are times when we fail too.
Add 時には when you want an “even sometimes” contrast, and learn 時折 mainly for reading and more descriptive expression.
Sometimes vs Sometime vs Some Time in Japanese
English learners and Japanese learners alike can confuse these three English expressions.
on some occasions
⇒ 時々 / たまに
sometime
at an unspecified future or past time
⇒ いつか / そのうち / 以前のある時点
some time
a certain amount of time
⇒ しばらく / ある程度の時間
I sometimes go to Kyoto.
私は時々京都に行きます。
Watashi wa tokidoki Kyōto ni ikimasu.
Let’s go to Kyoto sometime.
いつか京都に行きましょう。
Itsuka Kyōto ni ikimashō.
I stayed in Kyoto for some time.
京都にしばらく滞在しました。
Kyōto ni shibaraku taizai shimashita.
時々会いましょう means “Let’s meet from time to time,” suggesting repeated meetings.
For one unspecified future meeting, say いつか会いましょう.
時々 and Exact Frequency Expressions
Use an exact frequency phrase when the count matters.
I sometimes go to the gym.
⇒ approximate frequency
週に二回ジムに行きます。
I go to the gym twice a week.
⇒ exact frequency
月に一度、祖母に電話します。
Tsuki ni ichido, sobo ni denwa shimasu.
I call my grandmother once a month.
一日に時々休憩します。
Ichinichi ni tokidoki kyūkei shimasu.
I take breaks from time to time during the day.
週に二、三回 — two or three times a week
or
時々 — sometimes
Combining a precise frame with an intentionally vague frequency is possible only when context gives it a purpose.
What Does 曇り時々雨 Mean?
You will often see 時々 in Japanese weather forecasts.
Kumori tokidoki ame
Cloudy with occasional rain
Cloudy, with rain at times
In ordinary conversation, 時々 has no fixed percentage. In Japan Meteorological Agency forecast terminology, however, it has a technical definition: the phenomenon occurs intermittently, and the total time it occurs is less than half of the forecast period.
時々雨 ⇒ rain occurs intermittently, stopping and starting
一時雨 ⇒ rain continues without a break for a shorter block of time
These are technical weather uses, so do not convert them directly into a general everyday frequency percentage.
Mostly sunny, becoming cloudy at intervals.
曇り時々雪
Cloudy with snow at times.
雨時々曇り
Rainy, with cloudy intervals.
The Origin and Structure of 時々
時々 is built by repeating the noun 時 (toki), meaning “time,” “occasion,” or “moment.”
a time / an occasion
＋
時 (toki → doki through rendaku)
another time / another occasion
↓
時々 (tokidoki)
at different times / on some occasions / sometimes
The repetition naturally creates a plural or distributive image: not one single time, but separate times occurring here and there.
The repeated form turns separate occasions into a frequency expression.
The Less Common Noun Meaning
Dictionaries also record a noun use meaning “each particular time,” “the various times,” or “the season or circumstances at each time.”
時々の花を楽しむ。
Tokidoki no hana o tanoshimu.
to enjoy the flowers of each season
This is not the first use beginners need. In everyday conversation, 時々 is most commonly learned as the adverb “sometimes.”
時々 in Casual Conversation
Do you cook for yourself?
B: うん、時々ね。
Yeah, sometimes.
Have you seen Tanaka recently?
B: 時々駅で会うよ。
I sometimes see him at the station.
Don’t you get lonely?
B: 時々はね。
Sometimes, yeah.
“Yeah, sometimes.”
“From time to time, I guess.”
The omitted verb is understood from the question.
時々 in Anime, Manga, and Songs
時々 is less dramatic than many anime catchphrases, but it is common in reflective dialogue and narration.
Sometimes I remember the past.
君は時々、変なことを言うよね。
You say strange things sometimes, don’t you?
時々、自分が誰なのか分からなくなる。
Sometimes I lose sight of who I am.
あいつも時々は役に立つ。
Even that guy is useful sometimes.
時々夢に出てくるんだ。
They appear in my dreams from time to time.
時々でいいから、思い出して。
Even if it is only once in a while, remember me.
“You do not have to do it often. Even sometimes is enough.”
It can sound emotional when the speaker asks not to be completely forgotten.
Polite and Business Uses of 時々
時々 itself is neutral. The sentence ending controls politeness.
時々確認する。
I check it sometimes.
Polite:
時々確認します。
I check it from time to time.
Business-like:
状況を時々確認しております。
We check the situation periodically/from time to time.
システムが時々停止することがあります。
Shisutemu ga tokidoki teishi suru koto ga arimasu.
The system may occasionally stop.
進捗状況を時々共有してください。
Shinchoku jōkyō o tokidoki kyōyū shite kudasai.
Please share progress updates from time to time.
Instead of 時々報告してください, say:
毎週金曜日に報告してください。
Please report every Friday.
Use 時々 only when deliberate flexibility is acceptable.
Common Beginner Mistakes with 時々
Mistake 1: Using 時々 for One Unspecified Future Time
I want to go to Japan sometime.
⇒ One unspecified future occasion.
○ 時々日本に行きます。
I sometimes go to Japan.
⇒ Repeated occasional visits.
Mistake 2: Adding に After 時々
I sometimes watch movies.
× 時々に映画を見ます。
Incorrect in the ordinary frequency-adverb pattern.
Mistake 3: Treating 時々 as an Exact Percentage
Do not assume that 時々 always means 30 percent, twice a month, or another fixed number.
Mistake 4: Confusing 時々 with ずっと
I cough from time to time.
⇒ Separate occurrences.
ずっと咳が出る。
I keep coughing / have a continuous cough.
⇒ The condition continues.
Mistake 5: Using 時々 When You Mean よく
If the activity is a common or frequent part of your life, よく may be more natural.
If this feels frequent:
よく映画を見ます。
数か月に一度映画を見る。
If this feels occasional:
時々映画を見ます。 or たまに映画を見ます。
Mistake 6: Using Affirmative めったに
I rarely go.
× めったに行きます。
Incorrect for the ordinary “rarely” meaning.
Mistake 7: Assuming Weather-Forecast 時々 Defines Everyday Usage
The Japan Meteorological Agency uses a technical rule for forecast wording. Everyday 時々 remains context-dependent and does not inherit that numerical rule.
Natural Example Sentences with 時々
私は時々音楽を聞きながら勉強します。
Watashi wa tokidoki ongaku o kikinagara benkyō shimasu.
I sometimes study while listening to music.
休日は時々家族と公園に行きます。
Kyūjitsu wa tokidoki kazoku to kōen ni ikimasu.
On holidays, I sometimes go to the park with my family.
彼は時々冗談を言います。
Kare wa tokidoki jōdan o iimasu.
He sometimes tells jokes.
この部屋は時々変な音がします。
Kono heya wa tokidoki hen na oto ga shimasu.
This room sometimes makes a strange sound.
私は時々眼鏡をかけます。
Watashi wa tokidoki megane o kakemasu.
I wear glasses sometimes.
忙しい日は時々昼食を抜きます。
Isogashii hi wa tokidoki chūshoku o nukimasu.
On busy days, I sometimes skip lunch.
時々、何もしたくない日があります。
Tokidoki, nani mo shitakunai hi ga arimasu.
Sometimes there are days when I do not want to do anything.
彼女とは今でも時々会います。
Kanojo to wa ima demo tokidoki aimasu.
I still meet her from time to time.
冬でも時々暖かい日があります。
Fuyu demo tokidoki atatakai hi ga arimasu.
Even in winter, there are occasionally warm days.
先生は時々難しい質問をします。
Sensei wa tokidoki muzukashii shitsumon o shimasu.
The teacher sometimes asks difficult questions.
私は時々名前を忘れてしまいます。
Watashi wa tokidoki namae o wasurete shimaimasu.
I sometimes forget names.
バスは時々予定より早く来ます。
Basu wa tokidoki yotei yori hayaku kimasu.
The bus sometimes arrives earlier than scheduled.
夜中に時々目が覚めます。
Yonaka ni tokidoki me ga samemasu.
I sometimes wake up during the night.
時々は自分をほめてもいいと思います。
Tokidoki wa jibun o homete mo ii to omoimasu.
I think it is okay to praise yourself once in a while.
この道では時々鹿を見かけます。
Kono michi de wa tokidoki shika o mikakemasu.
You occasionally see deer on this road.
仕事のことで時々不安になります。
Shigoto no koto de tokidoki fuan ni narimasu.
I sometimes become anxious about work.
この薬を飲むと、時々眠くなることがあります。
Kono kusuri o nomu to, tokidoki nemuku naru koto ga arimasu.
This medicine may sometimes make you sleepy.
昔の写真を時々見返します。
Mukashi no shashin o tokidoki mikaeshimasu.
I look back at old photographs from time to time.
時々でいいので、連絡してください。
Tokidoki de ii node, renraku shite kudasai.
Please contact me, even if only once in a while.
曇りで、時々雨が降るでしょう。
Kumori de, tokidoki ame ga furu deshō.
It will be cloudy, with rain at times.
Mini Dialogues Using 時々
Talking About Exercise
Do you exercise?
B: はい。時々ジョギングします。
Yes. I sometimes go jogging.
A: 毎週ですか。
Every week?
B: いいえ、忙しくないときだけです。
No, only when I am not busy.
Talking About Restaurants
Do you eat out often?
B: いいえ、時々です。
No, only sometimes.
A: どんな店に行きますか。
What kind of restaurants do you go to?
B: 時々ラーメン屋に行きます。
I sometimes go to ramen shops.
Talking About a Computer Problem
How is this computer working?
B: 使えますが、時々急に止まります。
It works, but it sometimes freezes suddenly.
A: どのくらいの頻度ですか。
How often?
B: 一日に二、三回です。
Two or three times a day.
Remembering an Old Friend
Do you still remember that person?
B: うん。時々思い出すよ。
Yeah. I remember them from time to time.
FAQ About 時々
What does tokidoki mean in Japanese?
時々 (tokidoki) means “sometimes,” “occasionally,” or “from time to time.” It describes an event that occurs on some separate occasions, with gaps in between.
How often is tokidoki?
There is no fixed percentage. It generally falls below よく (“often”) and above very low-frequency expressions, but the exact frequency depends on context and the speaker’s viewpoint.
What is the difference between tokidoki and tamani?
They overlap. 時々 is neutral “sometimes,” while たまに often feels more like “once in a while” and may suggest a rarer event.
What is the difference between tokidoki and yoku?
よく means “often” and presents an activity as frequent or common. 時々 means it happens only on some occasions.
What is the difference between tokidoki and itsumo?
いつも presents something as the normal, consistent, or every-time pattern. 時々 describes occasional occurrences with gaps.
How do you write tokidoki in Japanese?
It is commonly written 時々 in kanji or ときどき in hiragana. The symbol 々 repeats the preceding kanji.
Why is tokidoki not pronounced tokitoki?
The second element undergoes rendaku, a voicing change: とき + とき becomes ときどき.
Does tokidoki need the particle ni?
No. In its ordinary frequency-adverb use, say 時々行きます, not 時々に行きます.
Can tokidoki go at the beginning of a sentence?
Yes. 時々、一人で散歩します is natural. It can also follow the topic: 私は時々一人で散歩します.
What does kumori tokidoki ame mean?
曇り時々雨 means “cloudy with rain at times.” In Japan Meteorological Agency terminology, the rain occurs intermittently and for less than half of the forecast period in total.
Does tokidoki mean sometime?
Usually no. 時々 means repeated “sometimes.” English “sometime” meaning one unspecified future occasion is usually いつか or そのうち.
Related Japanese Frequency Expressions
always / normally
たいてい (taitei)
usually / in most cases
よく (yoku)
often / frequently
時々 (tokidoki)
sometimes / from time to time
たまに (tama ni)
occasionally / once in a while
時折 (tokiori)
occasionally / at times; somewhat descriptive or literary
あまり～ない (amari … nai)
not often / not very much
めったに～ない (metta ni … nai)
rarely / hardly ever
ほとんど～ない (hotondo … nai)
almost never / hardly ever
全然～ない (zenzen … nai)
not at all / never in the stated context
いつも ⇒ the normal or every-time pattern
よく ⇒ often
時々 ⇒ sometimes, with gaps
Then add たいてい, たまに, and the negative low-frequency expressions.
Summary: The Meaning and Usage of 時々
時々 means “sometimes,” “occasionally,” or “from time to time.”
● Core image
Separate occurrences appear at different points on a timeline, with gaps between them.
● Writing and pronunciation
Kanji: 時々
Hiragana: ときどき
Romaji: tokidoki
Mora: と・き・ど・き
● Word structure
時 + 時, written with the repetition mark 々.
Rendaku changes the second とき to どき.
● Basic sentence pattern
Topic + は + 時々 + verb
● Approximate frequency position
よく → 時々 → たまに → あまり～ない
The boundaries are not fixed percentages.
● Important English distinction
sometimes = 時々
sometime = いつか
some time = しばらく / ある程度の時間
● Weather use
曇り時々雨 = cloudy with intermittent rain
The event happens at one time, disappears for a while, and appears again on another occasion.
That image will help you separate 時々 from いつも, よく, たまに, and ずっと.
References
- Kotobank: 時時（ときどき） — meanings as an adverb and noun, spelling, and pronunciation information.
- The Japan Foundation, Minna no Kyozai: ほとんど…否定 — relative ordering of common frequency expressions.
- The Japan Foundation, Irodori Grammar Worksheets — beginner practice using いつも, たいてい, よく, ときどき, あまり, and ぜんぜん.
- Japan Meteorological Agency: Weather Forecasts — official distinction between 時々 and 一時 in forecast terminology.