Translation guide
The state or quality of being intricate, complicated, or having many interconnected parts. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through nouns, adjectives, and descriptive phrases that emphasize difficulty, intricacy, or multi-layered structure.
Describing something as complex, intricate, or not simple.
The most direct and common noun for 'complexity', derived from the adjective 複雑な (complex). Used for abstract and concrete situations.
I was surprised by the complexity of this problem.
A more formal or technical term for complexity, often used in academic or scientific contexts.
The complexity of the system is increasing.
A phrase meaning 'the fact of being complex', often used in everyday speech when a noun form is needed.
There's nothing complex about it.
Emphasizing the detailed, intricate nature of something, like a design or mechanism.
Also covers intricacy; context distinguishes it from general complexity.
The intricacy of this watch's mechanism is amazing.
Refers to elaborateness and precision, often with a positive connotation of craftsmanship.
I admired the intricacy of the carving.
A descriptive phrase for a tangled or intricate state, often used for plots or situations.
Expressing that something is hard to understand or deal with because of its complexity.
While primarily meaning 'difficulty', it often implies complexity when the difficulty stems from intricacy.
The complexity of this math problem is extraordinary.
A colloquial noun meaning 'complicatedness' or 'trickiness', common in casual speech.
I got fed up with the complexity of the procedure.
Describing something with many layers, aspects, or dimensions.
複雑さ is the everyday word for complexity. 複雑性 is more formal and often used in technical or academic writing, similar to 'complexity' vs. 'complicatedness' in English.
When describing a person as 'complex', Japanese often uses 複雑な性格 (complex personality) rather than a noun form. Saying 彼は複雑さがある sounds unnatural; instead use 彼は複雑な人だ or 彼の性格は複雑だ.
The complexity of the situation is overwhelming.
I didn't realize the complexity of the task.
The story was so intricate that it was hard to understand.
問題の多面性を考慮する必要がある。
We need to consider the complexity (many facets) of the issue.