A1 Idiom ニュートラル

di tanto in tanto

From time to time

意味

Happening occasionally.

🌍

文化的背景

Italians value their free time and social connections. Using 'di tanto in tanto' often implies a relaxed, non-pressured way of maintaining relationships. The phrase is a favorite of authors like Italo Calvino and Natalia Ginzburg to describe the sporadic nature of memory and life events. In the South, where life can sometimes have a slower pace, this phrase is used frequently to describe seasonal habits or visiting relatives in other towns. In Italian offices, 'di tanto in tanto' is used to describe secondary tasks, showing that one is capable but not bogged down by minor details.

🎯

Sound more native

Use 'di tanto in tanto' at the beginning of a sentence to sound more poetic and sophisticated.

⚠️

Preposition Trap

Never say 'da tanto in tanto'. It is the most common mistake for English speakers.

意味

Happening occasionally.

🎯

Sound more native

Use 'di tanto in tanto' at the beginning of a sentence to sound more poetic and sophisticated.

⚠️

Preposition Trap

Never say 'da tanto in tanto'. It is the most common mistake for English speakers.

💡

Synonym Swap

If you find yourself saying 'a volte' too much, swap it for 'di tanto in tanto' to instantly level up your Italian.

💬

Social Softener

Use this phrase when you want to be non-committal about how often you do something.

自分をテスト

Complete the sentence with the correct prepositions.

Vado al mare ___ tanto ___ tanto.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: a

The fixed phrase is 'di tanto in tanto'.

Which sentence is the most natural for a neutral context?

How do you say 'I occasionally eat chocolate'?

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: b

'Di tanto in tanto' is the correct phrase for 'occasionally'.

Match the Italian phrase with its English equivalent.

Match the following:

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Di tanto in tanto = Occasionally, Sempre = Always, Spesso = Often, Mai = Never

These are the four main levels of frequency in Italian.

Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.

A: Ti piace cucinare? B: Sì, ma lo faccio solo ___.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: a

'Di tanto in tanto' fits the context of doing a hobby occasionally.

🎉 スコア: /4

ビジュアル学習ツール

When to use 'Di tanto in tanto'

🎨

Hobbies

  • Painting
  • Hiking
  • Cooking
👋

Social

  • Texting friends
  • Visiting family
  • Parties

練習問題バンク

4 問題
Complete the sentence with the correct prepositions. Fill Blank A1

Vado al mare ___ tanto ___ tanto.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: a

The fixed phrase is 'di tanto in tanto'.

Which sentence is the most natural for a neutral context? Choose A1

How do you say 'I occasionally eat chocolate'?

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: b

'Di tanto in tanto' is the correct phrase for 'occasionally'.

Match the Italian phrase with its English equivalent. Match A1

左の各項目を右のペアと一致させてください:

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: Di tanto in tanto = Occasionally, Sempre = Always, Spesso = Often, Mai = Never

These are the four main levels of frequency in Italian.

Fill in the missing part of the dialogue. dialogue_completion A2

A: Ti piace cucinare? B: Sì, ma lo faccio solo ___.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: a

'Di tanto in tanto' fits the context of doing a hobby occasionally.

🎉 スコア: /4

よくある質問

12 問

It is neutral to slightly formal. It's safe for all situations, but 'ogni tanto' is more common with close friends.

No, that is incorrect. The only correct preposition in the middle is 'in'.

'A volte' is very simple and common. 'Di tanto in tanto' sounds a bit more elegant and rhythmic.

Not exactly. 'Rarely' (raramente) implies it almost never happens. 'Di tanto in tanto' implies it happens occasionally but with some regularity.

Usually at the end or the beginning. 'Vado al cinema di tanto in tanto' or 'Di tanto in tanto vado al cinema'.

Yes, e.g., 'Ho mal di testa di tanto in tanto' (I have a headache occasionally).

Yes, it is a standard Italian expression used from Milan to Sicily.

Make sure the 't' is crisp and your tongue touches your upper teeth, not the roof of your mouth.

Yes, 'ogni tanto' is shorter and serves the same purpose in casual speech.

Yes, it is very appropriate for professional writing.

No, it is an adverbial phrase and never changes its form.

Only if you are writing a 19th-century novel! It's very old-fashioned.

関連フレーズ

🔄

ogni tanto

synonym

every now and then

🔗

a volte

similar

sometimes

🔗

raramente

contrast

rarely

🔄

di quando in quando

synonym

from time to time

🔗

sporadicamente

specialized form

sporadically

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