Definitions

jiǎn (adjective) simple; uncomplicated
jiǎn (noun) letter
jiǎn (verb) to choose; to select

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and represents the sound. The character is based on the original meaning "bamboo strips for writing". The meaning later shifted to "letter", "concise", and "simple".

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 简 combines the bamboo radical 竹 at the top, indicating its material origin, with the component 间 below, which serves as a phonetic element while also meaning space or interval. It is the modern form of the traditional character 簡. Historically, it referred to the bamboo slips or wooden tablets used as the primary writing medium for recording texts. Because compiling documents on these slips required significant labor and materials, writers had to keep their language brief and concise to save space. This practical necessity of efficient writing on bamboo led to the character’s meaning evolving toward concepts of simplicity, brevity, and summarizing complex information.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这本书很单。

Zhè běn shū hěn jiǎndān.

This book is very simple.

他的回答很短。

Tā de huídá hěn jiǎnduǎn.

His answer is very brief.

单介绍一下。

Qǐng jiǎndān jièshào yīxià.

Please give a brief introduction.

她写了一份历。

Tā xiě le yī fèn jiǎnlì.

She wrote a resume.

这个设计洁大方。

Zhège shèjì jiǎnjié dàfāng.

This design is concise and elegant.

我们需要化流程。

Wǒmen xūyào jiǎnhuà liúchéng.

We need to simplify the process.

要说明你的观点。

Jiǎnyào shuōmíng nǐ de guāndiǎn.

Briefly explain your point of view.

化字便于学习汉字。

Jiǎnhuàzì biànyú xuéxí hànzì.

Simplified characters make it easier to learn Chinese characters.