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HSK 4

复杂

complicated; complex

adjectiveneutral
复
fù4th tone
杂
zá2nd tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
fùzá
Part of speech
adjective
Level
HSK 4
Strokes
15
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 复杂

复杂 is written with 15 strokes (复: 9, 杂: 6). The animation replays automatically.

What does 复杂 mean?

复杂 (fùzá) is an adjective meaning 'complicated, complex, or intricate' — made up of many interrelated parts, hard to sort out.

It describes situations (情况很复杂), problems (复杂的问题), procedures (手续复杂), relationships (关系复杂), and feelings (心情复杂, mixed feelings). It is neutral and very common. English speakers should note two things: first, 复杂 usually carries a mildly negative or burdensome tone — 'complicated' in the sense of troublesome — whereas English 'complex' can be admiring; to praise elegant complexity Chinese leans on other words.

Second, its direct antonym is 简单 (jiǎndān, simple), a pair worth learning together. 复杂 also describes emotional intricacy: 心情很复杂 means 'to feel conflicted / have mixed emotions.' The characters read 'repeated/layered + miscellaneous.'

Character by character

复fùrepeated; layered; multiple
+
杂zámixed; miscellaneous; assorted
=
复杂

Memory hook: 复 (layered) + 杂 (mixed) = many layers all mixed together → complicated.

Example sentences

这个问题太复杂了，我需要想想。

Zhège wèntí tài fùzá le, wǒ xūyào xiǎngxiang.

This problem is too complicated, I need to think.

spoken

他们之间的关系很复杂。

Tāmen zhījiān de guānxi hěn fùzá.

The relationship between them is complicated.

neutral

手续没有想象中那么复杂。

Shǒuxù méiyǒu xiǎngxiàng zhōng nàme fùzá.

The procedure isn't as complicated as imagined.

neutral

听到这个消息，我的心情很复杂。

Tīngdào zhège xiāoxi, wǒ de xīnqíng hěn fùzá.

Hearing this news, I had very mixed feelings.

written

Common phrases with 复杂

很复杂hěn fùzávery complicated
复杂的问题fùzá de wèntía complex problem
情况复杂qíngkuàng fùzáthe situation is complicated
心情复杂xīnqíng fùzáto have mixed feelings

Synonyms

麻烦máfan

麻烦 means 'troublesome / a hassle' — focusing on the effort and annoyance something costs. 复杂 focuses on structural intricacy, many parts. A task can be 复杂 (intricate) without being 麻烦 (annoying), and vice versa.

Don't confuse 复杂 with

复习fùxí

复习 (to review / revise for a test) shares 复 with 复杂 but means going over material again, not being complex. Watch the second character: 杂 (mixed) vs 习 (practice).

复印fùyìn

复印 (to photocopy) also starts with 复 but is an action, not a description. 复杂 is an adjective describing intricacy.

FAQ

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