Chinese word

朴素

Pronunciation

Pinyinpǔ sù

Meaning

  • adjectivesimple

Example

她的家布置得很朴素。tā de jiā bù zhì de hěn pǔ sù

Her home is decorated very simply.

Illustration for 朴素 (simple)

More examples

他写作风格朴素，没有华丽的修辞。tā xiě zuò fēng gé pǔ sù méi yǒu huá lì de xiū cí

His writing style is simple, without ornate rhetoric.

Core concept

A calm, natural style that leaves out showy decoration.

Common phrases

  • 朴素的衣着pǔ sù de yī zhuó

    simple clothing

  • 朴素的语言pǔ sù de yǔ yán

    simple language

  • 朴素的态度pǔ sù de tài dù

    unpretentious attitude

Similar words

质朴zhì pǔ: Plain and natural in appearance or character, with a calm, unpretentious quality.
朴实pǔ shí: Plain, sincere, and down-to-earth, without affected behavior or showy style.
素雅sù yǎ: Understated and elegant, with a refined beauty that avoids bright or flashy decoration.

Definition in Chinese

风格或表现简单朴实，不用花哨的修饰，侧重自然和真实。fēng gé huò biǎo xiàn jiǎn dān pǔ shí bú yòng huā shào de xiū shì cè zhòng zì rán hé zhēn shí

Word origin

朴 (pǔ, "plain") + 素 (sù, "unadorned") combine to present something in its natural state, without added display.

Usage tips

  • When describing spending or daily habits, context matters: the word can praise restraint, but it does not by itself show that someone is poor, stingy, or doing without necessities.

Other meanings

  • unpretentiousadjective
  • frugaladjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word