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簡素 (かんそ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

簡かん素そ

か

ん

そ

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

simple; plain; modest

Describes something unadorned, without unnecessary decoration or complexity; often used for lifestyles, designs, or systems that are intentionally restrained.

彼かれは

簡かん

素そ

な

生せい

活かつ

を

送おく

っ

て

いる

。

He leads a simple life.

この部屋へやは簡かん素そで落おち着つく。

This room is plain and calming.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉を簡かん素そにするto simplify (make plain) something
会かい社しゃは手て続つづきを簡かん素そにした。
The company simplified the procedures.
簡かん素そな生せい活かつを送おくるto lead a simple, modest life
彼かれは都と会かいを離はなれ、簡かん素そな生せい活かつを送おくっている。
He left the city and now leads a simple life.
簡かん素そな儀ぎ式しきa modest, unadorned ceremony
結けっ婚こん式しきは簡かん素そな儀ぎ式しきで行おこなわれた。
The wedding was held as a simple ceremony.

Kanji

簡simplicity, brevity
素elementary, principle, naked

Related words

質しっ素そN2
質素 stresses frugality and avoiding luxury in one's lifestyle, while 簡素 focuses on simplicity of form or design without implying cheapness.
シンプルN3
シンプル is a casual, modern loanword for 'simple' often used for design, while 簡素 is more formal and typical of written descriptions.
簡かん略りゃくN1
簡略 emphasizes cutting down steps or content to make something brief and easy, whereas 簡素 emphasizes an unadorned, restrained overall style.
素そ朴ぼくN2
素朴 describes something naive, unsophisticated, or rustic in character, while 簡素 describes deliberate simplicity in design or form.
簡かん易いN1
簡素 emphasizes plainness or austerity (e.g. a simple lifestyle), while 簡易 emphasizes ease of use or a reduced/simplified form of something standard.

Opposites

豪ごう華かN3
豪華 means lavish and luxurious, the opposite of the restrained plainness described by 簡素.
複ふく雑ざつN4
複雑 means complicated or intricate, contrasting with the uncomplicated plainness of 簡素.
デラックス
簡素 describes something plain and unadorned, the opposite of the lavish, feature-rich quality implied by デラックス.

Don't confuse with

簡かん単たんN5
簡単 means 'easy' or 'simple in difficulty', while 簡素 means 'plain in form or decoration'; learners often confuse the two because of the shared kanji 簡.

Word family

簡かん素そ化か
simplification

Written forms

簡かん素そUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling; common in news and formal writing.
かんそUsage1%

Etymology

From Middle Chinese-derived kanji 簡 (simple, brief) and 素 (plain, element). The combination has been used in Japanese to mean 'simplicity' or 'plainness' since at least the Edo period.

凝こった

簡素 describes something plain and minimal, contrasting with 凝った, which describes something richly detailed or fancy.