简单
simple; easy
HSK level
- Pinyin
- jiǎndān
- Part of speech
- adjective
- Level
- HSK 3
- Strokes
- 21
- Register
- neutral
- In episodes
- 4
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
Memory hook: 简 (brief) + 单 (single) = brief and single — only one thing, nothing complicated. Simple.
Hear 简单 in real episodes
简单 appears in 4 Fluentide podcast episodes at natural native speed. Each sentence plays at the easiest difficulty it exists in — switch it to hear the same moment at your level, with full pinyin and English throughout.
这个比赛的规则很简单：拍的必须是野生动物，而且必须好笑。
The rules of this contest are simple: it must be wildlife, and it must be funny.
A Squirrel Attacks an Owl and a Moose Sneezes: The Funniest Wildlife Photos of 2026 Are InIntermediate
学生们的意思很简单：要省钱，可以，但不能从教室里省。
The students' message is simple: save money, fine, but not from the classroom.
French High-School Students Walk Out Over Missing Teachers: 250,000 March, Thousands Arrested and 500 Schools ShutIntermediate
结论很简单：去口臭，刮比刷有效。
The conclusion is simple: for bad breath, scraping works better than brushing.
Tongue Scrapers Beat Toothbrushes at Fighting Bad Breath — and Your Tongue's Bacteria May Help Lower Your Blood Pressure
刘欢去世以后，他的大学说：什么都要简单。
After Liu Huan died, his university said: everything should be simple.
Liu Huan, Who Sang the 2008 Beijing Olympics Theme 'You and Me,' Dies at 63
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
Synonyms
Don't confuse 简单 with
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 ('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.
Frequently asked questions
Related words from the same episodes
Acquire it by listening
Meet 简单 again — in real Chinese, at your level.
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