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簡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
簡jiǎnsimple, succinct, terse; a letterzg, 18 strokes, radical ⺮
jiǎn(jian3) T3
  1. 1simple, succinct, terse; a letter
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March 24, 2026

簡jiǎn(jian3)

The character 簡 (jiǎn) generally means 'simple' or 'succinct,' often used to describe something that is straightforward and not complicated. It can also refer to a letter or a note, particularly in a written context. This character is commonly used in both formal and informal situations, conveying clarity and directness.

Strokes18Radical⺮
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the value placed on simplicity is reflected in art, philosophy, and communication. The concept of '简约' (jiǎnyuē, simplicity) is often celebrated in design and aesthetics, suggesting that true beauty lies in uncomplicated forms.

Memory Tip

Imagine a simple letter, like a postcard, that contains only the essential information. The character 簡 has the radical for 'bamboo' (竹) on the left, which suggests clarity and straightforwardness, and it evokes the idea of a concise message written on a simple piece of bamboo paper.

Meanings of 簡

jiǎn(jian3)
1simple, succinct, terse; a letter
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 簡

簡Simplified
18Strokes
⺮Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 簡

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Podcast: 簡

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AI Study Notes for 簡

Quick Contrast

简 (jiǎn) vs 明 (míng) — use 简 for simplicity or succinctness, while 明 emphasizes clarity or brightness.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 簡 with its antonym 複 (fù), which means 'complex' or 'complicated.' Remember that 簡 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is important to use it appropriately when describing documents or messages. Common collocations include 簡單 (jiǎndān, simple) and 簡報 (jiǎnbào, brief report).

HSK Study Tips

Although 簡 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for intermediate learners. Students should focus on its usage in writing and speaking, as it connects well with related words like 簡單 (simple) and 簡潔 (concise). Understanding these connections will enhance vocabulary retention.

Common Mistakes

Learners often write 簡 incorrectly by mixing it up with the character for 'complex' (复杂), leading to phrases like '這篇文章很簡 (zhè piān wénzhāng hěn jiǎn),' which is incorrect. The correct phrase would be '這篇文章很簡單 (zhè piān wénzhāng hěn jiǎndān).'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 簡

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Etymology of 簡

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 簡. Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 間 represents the sound. The character is based on the original meaning "bamboo strips for writing", which is unrelated to the modern meaning.

Memory Hint

bamboo

Semantic (meaning)⺮
+
Phonetic (sound)間
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

簡 = ⺮ + 間. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 簡

IDS Structure⿱⺮間
簡Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
間jian1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 簡?

How to say simple, succinct, terse; a letter in Chinese

“simple, succinct, terse; a letter” in Chinese is簡jiǎn

The character 簡 (jiǎn) generally means 'simple' or 'succinct,' often used to describe something that is straightforward and not complicated. It can also refer to a letter or a note, particularly in a written context. This character is commonly used in both formal and informal situations, conveying clarity and directness.

When to use 簡

Learners often confuse 簡 with its antonym 複 (fù), which means 'complex' or 'complicated.' Remember that 簡 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is important to use it appropriately when describing documents or messages. Common collocations include 簡單 (jiǎndān, simple) and 簡報 (jiǎnbào, brief report).

簡 or something close to it

简 (jiǎn) vs 明 (míng) — use 简 for simplicity or succinctness, while 明 emphasizes clarity or brightness.

What learners get wrong

Learners often write 簡 incorrectly by mixing it up with the character for 'complex' (复杂), leading to phrases like '這篇文章很簡 (zhè piān wénzhāng hěn jiǎn),' which is incorrect. The correct phrase would be '這篇文章很簡單 (zhè piān wénzhāng hěn jiǎndān).'

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簡

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Word Family of 簡

Words Containing This Character20
简单jiǎndānsimple簡單
简直jiǎnzhísimply簡直
简称jiǎnchēngabbreviation簡稱
简jiǎnsimple簡
简历jiǎnlìrésumé簡歷
简洁jiǎnjiéconcise簡潔
简短jiǎnduǎnbriefly簡短
简化jiǎnhuàto simplify簡化
简介jiǎnjièsummary簡介
简约sketchy簡約
简易jiǎnyìsimplistic簡易
简便handy簡便
简报presentation簡報
简陋jiǎnlòusimple and crude簡陋
精简jīngjiǎnto simplify精簡
简要jiǎnyàoconcise簡要
不简单not simple不簡單
简单化simplification簡單化
简朴plain簡樸
简明concise簡明
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 簡

What does 简单 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 簡

You can say '這封信很簡單' (zhè fēng xìn hěn jiǎndān), which means 'This letter is very simple.'

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