簡単
kantan
It's easy; Simple
Phrase in 30 Seconds
{簡単|かんたん} is the go-to Japanese word for describing tasks, problems, or processes that are simple and require little effort.
- Means: Simple, easy, or uncomplicated in nature. (10 words)
- Used in: Describing recipes, exam questions, or assembly instructions. (10 words)
- Don't confuse: With {優|やさ}しい, which means 'easy' but also 'kind'. (12 words)
Explanation at your level:
意思
Statement indicating something is not difficult.
文化背景
The concept of 'Kantan' is often paired with 'Benri' (convenient) in marketing. Japanese consumers value products that simplify their complex lives. When asked to do something, saying 'Kantan desu' might sound like you are underestimating the work. It's safer to say 'Suguni dekimasu' (I can do it immediately). Students often use 'Kantan' to brag or express relief, but teachers might discourage it to ensure students don't become overconfident. Simplicity is a core tenet of Zen and traditional arts. While 'Kantan' is used for tasks, 'Simple' in art is often called 'Sappari' or 'Wabi-sabi'.
The 'Ni' Trick
Use '{簡単|かんたん}に' before any verb to sound like you're an expert at it!
Person Trap
Never call your date '{簡単|かんたん}な{人|ひと}'. It won't end well.
意思
Statement indicating something is not difficult.
The 'Ni' Trick
Use '{簡単|かんたん}に' before any verb to sound like you're an expert at it!
Person Trap
Never call your date '{簡単|かんたん}な{人|ひと}'. It won't end well.
Summarizing
Start your sentences with '{簡単|かんたん}に{言|い}うと...' to buy time while you think of a summary.
自我测试
Fill in the blank with the correct form of {簡単|かんたん}.
これはとても（ ）な{料理|りょうり}です。
When modifying a noun like {料理|りょうり}, you must use the 'na' form.
Which sentence is the most natural way to ask for a brief explanation?
Choose the correct sentence:
You can use '{簡単|かんたん}な' to describe the explanation (noun) or '{簡単|かんたん}に' to describe the act of explaining (verb).
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You found the exam very easy.
{簡単|かんたん} is the standard word for 'easy' in an academic context.
Complete the dialogue.
A: この{本|ほん}、{読|よ}めるかな？ B: うん、（ ）だよ。
In casual speech, you can end the sentence with just the adjective.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
When to use {簡単|かんたん}
Tasks
- • Homework
- • Cooking
- • Cleaning
Communication
- • Brief intro
- • Short email
- • Simple explanation
Design
- • Simple UI
- • Basic tools
- • Minimalist room
常见问题
10 个问题In daily conversation, {簡単|かんたん} is very common for 'simple.' {易|やさ}しい is often used in textbooks and for 'easy' levels.
No, it's usually rude. Use {優|やさ}しい (kind) or {話|はな}しやすい (easy to talk to).
The most common opposite is {難|むずか}しい (difficult) or {複雑|ふくざつ} (complex).
Use the phrase '{簡単|かんたん}に{言|い}うと' (Kantan ni iu to).
It is a na-adjective. You say '{簡単|かんたん}な', not '{簡単|かんたん}い'.
Yes, '{簡単|かんたん}な{説明|せつめい}' means a brief explanation.
No, but a 'simple' meal might be cheap. Use '{安|やす}い' for price.
Yes, but use it politely (desu/masu). For very formal documents, use {容易|ようい}.
{簡単|かんたん} is 'easy to do,' while {単純|たんじゅん} is 'simple in structure/logic.'
Yes, that is the casual/plain form of '{簡単|かんたん}です'.
相关表达
{易|やさ}しい
synonymEasy
{楽|らく}な
similarComfortable / Easy
{容易|ようい}な
specialized formEasy / Simple
{複雑|ふくざつ}な
contrastComplex / Complicated
{単純|たんじゅん}な
similarSimple / Naive
在哪里用
Cooking with a friend
Friend: このパスタ、{難|むずか}しそうだね。
You: ううん、すごく{簡単|かんたん}だよ！
Tech Support
Customer: 設定がわかりません。
Staff: このボタンを{押|お}すだけです。{簡単|かんたん}ですよ。
Job Interview
Interviewer: まずは{簡単|かんたん}に{自己紹介|じこしょうかい}をお{願|ねが}いします。
Candidate: はい、{承知|しょうち}いたしました。
Asking for Directions
You: 駅まで{遠|とお}いですか？
Local: いいえ、まっすぐ行くだけ。{簡単|かんたん}な道ですよ。
After an Exam
Classmate A: テスト、どうだった？
Classmate B: {思|おも}ったより{簡単|かんたん}だった！
Ordering Food
Clerk: ご注文はお決まりですか？
You: はい、{簡単|かんたん}なランチセットで。
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'CAN' (Kan) of 'TAN'gerines. It's so EASY to open and eat!
Visual Association
Imagine a single bamboo slip (the radical in {簡|かん}) with just one word written on it. It's so simple, you don't need a whole book.
Rhyme
Kantan is the plan, for a simple man.
Story
A chef wanted to make a meal. He looked at a complex book, but then he found a single bamboo slip ({簡|かん}) with one ({単|たん}) ingredient. He said, 'This is {簡単|かんたん}!'
Word Web
挑战
Try to describe your favorite hobby using only {簡単|かんたん} sentences for 5 minutes.
In Other Languages
Simple / Easy
English 'easy' applies to personality/lifestyle; Japanese {簡単|かんたん} usually doesn't.
Fácil
Spanish uses 'fácil' for people more often than Japanese uses {簡単|かんたん}.
Facile / Simple
French 'simple' can mean 'just' (c'est simple), which {簡単|かんたん} doesn't.
Einfach
German 'einfach' is also used as an adverb meaning 'simply/just' (einfach so).
Sahl (سهل)
Arabic 'Sahl' is often used as a name for people, whereas {簡単|かんたん} is never a name.
Jiǎndān (简单)
In Chinese, it can be used more broadly to describe a person's character as 'not simple' (unremarkable).
Gandan (간단)
Japanese {簡単|かんたん} is used for 'easy' more frequently than Korean 'gandan'.
Fácil
Portuguese uses 'simples' more for 'uncomplicated' and 'fácil' for 'not hard'.
Easily Confused
It is pronounced the same as {易|やさ}しい (easy) but means 'kind'.
Look at the kanji or the context. If it's about a person, it's usually 'kind'.
Can mean 'appropriate' but also 'careless/random'.
Kantan means simple; Tekitou means 'just enough' or 'half-hearted'.
常见问题 (10)
In daily conversation, {簡単|かんたん} is very common for 'simple.' {易|やさ}しい is often used in textbooks and for 'easy' levels.
No, it's usually rude. Use {優|やさ}しい (kind) or {話|はな}しやすい (easy to talk to).
The most common opposite is {難|むずか}しい (difficult) or {複雑|ふくざつ} (complex).
Use the phrase '{簡単|かんたん}に{言|い}うと' (Kantan ni iu to).
It is a na-adjective. You say '{簡単|かんたん}な', not '{簡単|かんたん}い'.
Yes, '{簡単|かんたん}な{説明|せつめい}' means a brief explanation.
No, but a 'simple' meal might be cheap. Use '{安|やす}い' for price.
Yes, but use it politely (desu/masu). For very formal documents, use {容易|ようい}.
{簡単|かんたん} is 'easy to do,' while {単純|たんじゅん} is 'simple in structure/logic.'
Yes, that is the casual/plain form of '{簡単|かんたん}です'.
