Japanese word

簡単

Pronunciation

Romajikantan

Meaning

  • na-adjectiveeasy

Example

この問題は簡単です。ko no mon dai wa kan tan de su

This problem is easy.

Illustration for 簡単 (easy)

More examples

このゲームは簡単です。ko no gē mu wa kan tan de su

This game is easy.

この料理は材料が少なく、簡単です。ko no ryō ri wa zai ryō ga suku na ku kan tan de su

This dish is easy because it uses few ingredients.

Core concept

Describes something that can be understood or done without much effort, making it straightforward rather than complicated.

Common phrases

  • 簡単な質問kan tan na shitsu mon

    an easy question

  • 簡単に覚えるkan tan ni obo e ru

    learn easily

  • 簡単な作業kan tan na sa gyō

    a simple task

Similar words

手軽tegaru: Describes something that can be done easily without much time, effort, or preparation.
楽raku: Describes something that requires little effort or causes little difficulty.
単純tanjun: Describes something with few parts or steps and little complexity in its structure.

Definition in Japanese

物事の内容や仕組みがわかりやすく、理解したり実行したりするのに手間がかからないさま。mono goto no nai yō ya shi ku mi ga wa ka ri ya su ku ri kai shi ta ri jik kō shi ta ri su ru no ni te ma ga ka ka ra na i sa ma

Word origin

簡単 (kantan) is a Sino-Japanese word formed from 簡 (kan, "simple" or "brief") and 単 (tan, "single" or "simple"), whose combined sense is uncomplicated.

Usage tips

  • For beginners, 簡単 (kantan) is a na-adjective, so it appears as 簡単な (kantan na) before a noun and 簡単です (kantan desu) at the end of a sentence.

Other meanings

  • simplena-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 簡単さkantansasimplicitynoun
  • 簡単化kantankasimplificationnoun

Word lists with this word