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HSK 3

简单

simple; easy

adjectiveneutral
简
jiǎn3rd tone
单
dān1st tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
jiǎndān
Part of speech
adjective
Level
HSK 3
Strokes
21
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 简单

简单 is written with 21 strokes (简: 13, 单: 8). The animation replays automatically.

What does 简单 mean?

简单 (jiǎndān) is the everyday adjective for 'simple' or 'easy.'

It describes things that are uncomplicated, plain, or low-effort — a 简单的问题 (simple question), 简单的菜 (a simple dish), 简单的生活 (a simple life). It blurs the line between English 'simple' (few parts) and 'easy' (low difficulty), so Mandarin speakers use it for both.

Two things to know: first, 简单 can describe people as 'naive' or 'uncomplicated' (他这个人很简单), with the connotation shifting between admiration and mild critique by tone; second, the negative form 不简单 ('not simple') is idiomatic praise — 'this kid is 不简单' means 'this kid is remarkable, impressive.' For 'easy' in the sense of a task being effortless, 容易 (róngyì) is the more precise word; 简单 leans toward describing the structure or nature of the thing itself.

Note: Standard in both speech and writing. The negation 不简单 ('not simple') is a common idiomatic compliment meaning 'remarkable, impressive.'

Character by character

简jiǎnsimple; brief; bamboo slip
+
单dānsingle; solo; sheet
=
简单

Memory hook: 简 (brief) + 单 (single) = brief and single — only one thing, nothing complicated. Simple.

Example sentences

这个问题很简单。

Zhège wèntí hěn jiǎndān.

This question is very simple.

neutral

今天我做了一个简单的菜。

Jīntiān wǒ zuò le yīge jiǎndān de cài.

Today I made a simple dish.

spoken

简单来说，他不想去。

Jiǎndān lái shuō, tā bù xiǎng qù.

To put it simply, he doesn't want to go.

neutral

这个孩子不简单！

Zhège háizi bù jiǎndān!

This kid is remarkable!

spoken

Common phrases with 简单

很简单hěn jiǎndānvery simple
简单的jiǎndān desimple (attributive)
不简单bù jiǎndānnot simple; remarkable
简单来说jiǎndān lái shuōto put it simply
简简单单jiǎn jiǎn dān dānplain and simple (reduplicated)

Synonyms

容易róngyì

容易 specifically means 'easy to do' — the task takes little effort. 简单 describes the inherent simplicity of the thing, structure, or design. A 简单的菜 is a basic dish; a 容易做的菜 is a dish that's easy to make. Often interchangeable, but 简单 is about the what, 容易 about the how.

方便fāngbiàn

方便 ('convenient') emphasizes ease of use or access in a given situation. 简单 emphasizes structural simplicity. A subway map can be 简单 (uncomplicated) or 方便 (convenient to use).

Don't confuse 简单 with

检查jiǎnchá

检查 (jiǎnchá) means 'to inspect, to check.' Both start with jiǎn but the second character is completely different — 单 (single) vs 查 (investigate).

简短jiǎnduǎn

简短 ('brief, short') describes length of speech or text — 简短的回答 (a brief answer). 简单 describes complexity, not length. A long answer can still be 简单 if its ideas are uncomplicated.

FAQ

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