Dictionary › 简

简

jiǎn

HSK 3 Character Traditional 簡

What 简 means

1. simple
2. uncomplicated
3. letter
4. to choose
5. to select
6. bamboo strips used for writing (old)

Example sentences

• 简化。
  Simplify.
• 简单！
  Easy!
• 说得简单。
  Talk is cheap.
• 这很简单。
  It is very simple.
• 十分简单。
  It's pretty simple.
• 游泳很简单。
  It is easy to swim.

Words starting with 简

• 简单jiǎn dānsimple; not complicated
• 简直jiǎn zhísimply; really
• 简历jiǎn lìcurriculum vitae (CV); résumé; biographical notes
• 简陋jiǎn lòusimple and crude
• 简化jiǎn huàto simplify
• 简要jiǎn yàoconcise; brief
• 简体字jiǎn tǐ zìsimplified Chinese character, as opposed to traditional Chinese character 繁体字
• 简介jiǎn jièsummary; brief introduction
• 简称jiǎn chēngto be abbreviated to; abbreviation; short form
• 简洁jiǎn jiéconcise; succinct; pithy
• 简短jiǎn duǎnbrief (statement, summary etc); briefly; brevity
• 简易jiǎn yìsimple and easy; simplistic; simplicity
• 简章jiǎn zhāngconcise list of rules; brochure; pamphlet
• 简报jiǎn bàopresentation; briefing; (oral or written) brief report
• 简明jiǎn míngsimple and clear; concise
• 简朴jiǎn pǔ(of lifestyle, clothing, writing etc) simple; plain
• 简便jiǎn biànsimple and convenient; handy
• 简约jiǎn yuēsketchy; concise; abbreviated
• 简练jiǎn liànterse; succinct
• 简写jiǎn xiěto write characters in simplified form; the simplified form of a character…
• 简讯jiǎn xùnnewsletter; the news in brief; (Taiwan) SMS message
• 简史jiǎn shǐa brief history
• 简略jiǎn lüèsimple; brief
• 简单化jiǎn dān huàsimplification; to simplify

Words containing 简

• 精简jīng jiǎnto simplify; to reduce
• 不简单bù jiǎn dānnot simple; rather complicated; remarkable; marvelous
• 竹简zhú jiǎnbamboo slips (used for writing on in ancient times)
• 言简意赅yán jiǎn yì gāiconcise and comprehensive (idiom)
• 从简cóng jiǎnto adopt a simplified approach; to keep things simple
• 书简shū jiǎn(literary) letter
• 白行简Bái Xíng jiǎnBai Xingjian (c. 776-826), younger brother of Bai Juyi 白居易
• 极简主义jí jiǎn zhǔ yìminimalism
• 精简开支jīng jiǎn kāi zhīto reduce spending; to cut spending
• 轻车简从qīng chē jiǎn cóng(of an official) to travel with little luggage and just a small escort…
• 生平简介shēng píng jiǎn jièbiographic sketch
• 苏易简Sū Yì jiǎnSu Yijian (958-997), Northern Song writer and poet
• 时间简史Shí jiān Jiǎn shǐ"A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking
• 邮简yóu jiǎnletter sheet (similar to an aerogram but not necessarily sent by airmail)
• 航空邮简háng kōng yóu jiǎnaerogram
• 短简duǎn jiǎnbrief
• 删简压缩shān jiǎn yā suōto simplify and condense (a text); abridged
• 汉简Hàn jiǎnbamboo slip used for record keeping during the Han Dynasty
• 繁简fán jiǎncomplicated and simple; traditional and simplified form of Chinese characters
• 因陋就简yīn lòu jiù jiǎncrude but simple methods (idiom); use whatever methods you can…
• 蠹简dù jiǎnold worm-eaten books
• 二简Èr jiǎnSecond Chinese Character Simplification Scheme (abbr. for 第二次汉字简化方案
• 第二次汉字简化方案Dì èr Cì Hàn zì Jiǎn huà Fāng ànSecond Chinese Character Simplification Scheme…
• 头脑简单四肢发达tóu nǎo jiǎn dān sì zhī fā dáall brawn no brains

Characters built on 竹

These share the phonetic component 竹 (zhú), which is why their readings rhyme. Learning them as a family is far cheaper than learning them one at a time.

• 签qiānto sign one's name; to write brief comments on a document…
• 篇piānsheet; piece of writing; bound set of bamboo slips used for record keeping (old)
• 箭jiànarrow
• 笺jiānletter; note-paper
• 箝qiánpliers; pincers; to clamp
• 笕jiǎnbamboo conduit; water pipe of bamboo
• 笾biānbamboo tazza used in ancient times to hold dry food for sacrifices or at banquets
• 筅xiǎnbamboo brush for utensils

Characters that look like 简

Easy to confuse on sight. Compare them side by side once and the pair stops costing you.

• 禁jìnto prohibit; to forbid
• 筒tǒngtube; cylinder; to encase in sth cylindrical (such as hands in sleeves etc)
• 熊xióngbear; (colloquial) to scold; to rebuke; (colloquial) weak; incapable
• 蔑mièto belittle; nothing
• 槃pánvariant of 盘; wooden tray
• 獒áo(bound form) mastiff

Sounds the same

Read jiǎn, tone for tone, but written differently.

• 检to check; to examine; to inspect
• 减to lower; to decrease; to reduce
• 剪(bound form) scissors or similar tool; to cut as with scissors; (bound form) to wipe out…
• 捡to pick up; to collect; to gather
• 柬card; note; letter
• 俭(bound form) frugal; thrifty
• 拣to choose; to pick; to sort out
• 蹇lame; cripple; unfortunate
• 茧(bound form) cocoon; (bound form) callus (variant of 趼
• 碱(chemistry) base; alkali; soda
• 睑eyelid
• 謇to speak out boldly