episodic

/ˌepɪˈsɒdɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌepɪˈsɑːdɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌe-pə-ˈsä-dik also -ˈzä-/ (ame, mw)

episodic — 形容詞

  • episodicpositive
  • more episodiccomparative
  • most episodicsuperlative

1. happening from time to time without a fixed pattern or regular schedule — not co

1.形容詞B2
釋義

偶發的

不定期發生的；沒有規律的

happening from time to time without a fixed pattern or regular schedule — not continuous or predictable.

例句

The Watanabe family received only episodic letters from their relatives in the countryside, sometimes going months without any news.

Watanabe 一家只能偶爾收到鄉下親戚的來信，有時好幾個月都沒有任何消息。

episodic + letters: irregular, infrequent communication

Episodic rain showers kept interrupting the outdoor wedding reception, forcing guests to dash under the tent each time.

偶發的陣雨不斷打斷戶外婚禮，賓客們每次都得衝到帳篷下躲雨。

episodic rain showers: coming and going unpredictably

同義詞
  • intermittent

    more technical; often used for symptoms or signals that stop and start

  • occasional

    weaker intensity; 'occasional' suggests rarity rather than irregular pattern

  • sporadic

    implies even less predictability; 'sporadic' suggests random occurrence

反義詞
  • regular

    happening at fixed, predictable intervals

  • continuous

    happening without interruption

文法句型

episodic + noun (episodic visits, episodic rain)

be + episodic

用法筆記

Often describes things that are expected to be regular but are not — like rainfall, visits, or public services. Distinguish from sense 3 (loosely connected events, not irregular timing).

常見錯誤

❌The episodic rain lasted all day without stopping.
✅The rain was continuous, not episodic.
💡'episodic' means irregular and intermittent, not non-stop.

2. (of a story, show, or programme) told or presented in separate parts or episodes

2.形容詞B2
釋義

分集的

以單集形式播出的（影集、節目）

(of a story, show, or programme) told or presented in separate parts or episodes, especially one part at a time on television, radio, or streaming platforms.

例句

The new detective series has an episodic structure where each episode solves a different crime while the main characters' personal story continues throughout the season.

這部新偵探影集採用分集結構，每集破解一宗不同的案件，同時主要角色的個人故事貫穿整季。

episodic + structure: each episode is self-contained but linked

Dr. Okafor prefers episodic podcasts because she can listen to any single episode without needing to follow a long, continuous story.

Okafor 醫師比較喜歡分集形式的 podcast，因為她可以收聽任何單一集數，不需要從頭追完整個連續故事。

同義詞
  • serialized

    similar but implies stronger overarching plot connecting episodes

  • segmented

    more general; can refer to any divided structure, not just media

反義詞

文法句型

episodic + noun (episodic story, episodic series)

用法筆記

Typically describes TV shows, radio dramas, podcasts, and web series. The opposite is 'serial' (one continuous story across episodes) or 'non-episodic'.

常見錯誤

❌The film was episodic, with a single story from start to finish.
✅The film was not episodic
💡it told one continuous story.' — a non-episodic work tells a single unbroken narrative.

3. made up of separate events, scenes, or memories that are only loosely connected

3.形容詞C1
釋義

片段式

由鬆散連接的事件或片段組成的

made up of separate events, scenes, or memories that are only loosely connected and do not form one smooth, continuous whole.

例句

The old man's account of his youth was episodic — he jumped from one vivid memory to another without following a clear timeline.

老先生對自己年輕時的回憶是片段式的——他在鮮明的記憶之間跳來跳去，完全沒有照時間順序。

episodic + memories/account: loosely connected fragments

The novel uses an episodic structure, moving between different characters' perspectives in short, self-contained chapters.

這本小說採用片段式結構，以短小、自成一章的篇幅在不同角色的視角間切換。

同義詞
反義詞

文法句型

episodic + noun (episodic narrative, episodic memories)

be + episodic (in structure)

用法筆記

In psychology, 'episodic memory' is a technical term for the ability to recall specific personal experiences. This sense differs from sense 2 (intentionally divided for TV/radio) by focusing on the loose, fragmentary quality of the content itself.

常見錯誤

❌The movie was episodic because it was shown in three parts on different nights.
✅That movie was shown in episodes
💡it had an episodic release. Its story was also episodic, jumping between unrelated scenes.' — sense 2 (media format) and sense 3 (loose structure) are different.

4. happening as a single, short-lived event that does not continue or become perman

4.形容詞C1
釋義

短暫的

僅限於單一事件的；一時性的

happening as a single, short-lived event that does not continue or become permanent — limited to one episode in time.

例句

The patient's fever was episodic, spiking to 39 degrees for one night and then disappearing completely the next day.

病人的發燒是短暫性的，燒到 39 度只持續了一晚，隔天就完全退燒了。

episodic + fever: a single, short-lived occurrence

The night-shift nurse warned that the dizziness might be episodic, lasting only while the medication entered her system.

大夜班的護理師提醒說，頭暈可能只是暫時性的，等藥物進入體內就會消失。

同義詞
  • temporary

    more common and broader; lacks the 'single event' focus

  • transient

    more formal; emphasizes the short duration

  • brief

    simpler and more general

反義詞
  • permanent

    lasting indefinitely

  • chronic

    long-lasting or recurring over a long period

文法句型

episodic + noun (episodic fever, episodic pain)

be + episodic

用法筆記

This is the least common sense. Often found in medical or technical writing about symptoms or conditions that come and go. Distinguish from sense 1 (repeated irregular occurrences) — this sense emphasizes a single occurrence that is temporary, not a pattern of irregular events.

常見錯誤

❌The episodic rain returned every afternoon for a week.
✅The rain followed a pattern
💡that is sense 1, not sense 4.' — sense 4 describes a single temporary episode, not repeated irregular occurrences.