簡
simplicity, brevity
Readings
On'yomi
- カン
- ケン
Kun'yomi
- えら.ぶ
- ふだ
Meaning
簡 centers on reducing to essentials: simplicity and brevity. It suggests stripping away excess to leave only what is necessary.
Most common words using 簡
20 of 85- 簡単かんたんN5
simple; easy; uncomplicated
- 簡易かんいN1
simple; simplified
- 簡潔かんけつN1
concise; brief; succinct; compact (style)
- 簡略かんりゃくN1
simple; brief
- 簡素かんそN1
simple; plain; modest
- 書簡しょかん
letter; note; epistle; correspondence
- 簡便かんべんN1
simple; easy; convenient; handy
- 簡かん
simplicity; brevity
- 簡保かんぽ
postal life insurance
- 簡裁かんさい
summary court; court of summary offences
- 簡明かんめい
terse; concise; simple and clear
- 木簡もっかん
narrow, long, and thin pieces of wood strung together that were used to write on in ancient times
- 簡易保険かんいほけん
postal life insurance
- いとも簡単にいともかんたんに
very easily
- パウロの書簡パウロのしょかん
Pauline Epistles
- パウロ書簡パウロしょかん
the epistles of Paul; Pauline epistles
- 一了簡いちりょうかん
at one's discretion
- 使徒書簡しとしょかん
the Epistles (of the New Testament)
- 公同書簡こうどうしょかん
General Epistles (James, Peter, Jude, John); Catholic Epistles; General Letters
- 公簡こうかん
official letter (esp. in internal company corresp.); formal letter
Study
Etymology
簡 combines 竹 (bamboo) with 間, which likely contributes the sound. Historically, bamboo strips were used for writing brief notes or documents, linking the character to simplicity and brevity.
Meaning mnemonic
Bamboo 竹 over 間 (interval/space) suggests a bamboo slip with just a few characters in the space: keeping things simple and brief.
Reading mnemonic
For カン, imagine a can of bamboo strips, each with a short, simple message: can -> カン, and the can holds the essence of simplicity.