When something is occasional, it happens now and then, but not on a timetable and not as the usual state of things. An occasional visitor comes some weeks and not others. Occasional rain shows up, then goes away.

When something is occasional當一個東西是occasional的, it它 happens now and then就是偶爾發生, but not on a timetable但不是按照時間表, and not as the usual state of things也不是平常的常態。An occasional visitor一個occasional的訪客 comes some weeks and not others有些禮拜會來，有些不會。Occasional rainOccasional rain(偶爾下的雨) shows up出現, then goes away然後又停了。

It sits between “hardly ever” and “often.” In real talk people also use it to downplay: “I have the occasional cigarette” can mean they smoke more than they want you to think, or that they want the habit to sound small. The word is ordinary in speech and writing; it does not feel fancy.

It它(這個字) sits between夾在 "hardly ever" and "often."「hardly ever」和「often」之間。In real talk在實際對話裡 people also use it人們也會用它 to downplay來把事情講得比較輕: "I have the occasional cigarette"「I have the occasional cigarette」 can mean可能表示 they smoke more than they want you to think他們抽得比想讓你以為的還多, or that they want the habit to sound small或是他們想把這個習慣講得比較不嚴重。The word這個字 is ordinary in speech and writing在口語和書寫裡都很普通; it它 does not feel fancy不會讓人覺得很花俏。

Though actually, it has a quieter second life: an occasional table is a small extra table you pull out when you need it — here occasional means “for this or that use,” not “rare.” Learners almost always meet the “sometimes, not regularly” meaning first.

Though actually不過其實, it它 has a quieter second life還有一個比較少人注意的另一個意思: an occasional tableoccasional table(隨用隨拿的小茶几) is a small extra table就是一張額外的小桌子 you pull out when you need it你需要的時候才拿出來用 — here occasional means在這裡occasional指的是 "for this or that use,"「因應這個或那個用途」, not "rare."不是「稀少」。Learners almost always meet學習者幾乎都會先遇到 the "sometimes, not regularly" meaning first「偶爾、不定期」這個意思。