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简略 (jiǎn lüè) — brief, sketchy, lacking detail (of speech, writing, or explanations)

Definition

Means 'brief, sketchy' — said of writing, reports, or explanations that leave out details. Pairs with 简单 ('simple') for plain content, but here the focus is on what's been left OUT, not what's easy.

adjective
briefsketchylacking detail (of speech, writing, or explanations)

Examples

  • 简略，。
    Tā de huí dá tài jiǎn lüè le, méi yǒu shuō míng jù tǐ yuán yīn.
    His answer was too brief — it didn't explain the specific reasons.
  • 简略。
    Mì shū jiǎn lüè dì jiè shào le huì yì de zhǔ yào nèi róng.
    The secretary briefly introduced the main content of the meeting.
  • 简略，。
    Zhè fèn bào gào xiě dé tài jiǎn lüè le, xū yào bǔ chōng gèng duō shù jù.
    This report is too sketchy — it needs more data added.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

简jiǎnsimple
略lüèbrief/summary

简 'simple' and 略 'brief/summary' both convey lack of detail.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 簡; 简 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhú
Sound part声符shēngfú
間
閒xián簡jiǎn
Same sound today

In the traditional form 簡, 竹 (bamboo) is paired with 間 (also written 閒) as a sound part; the simplified 简 is a later shorthand.

Open 简 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè略lüè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

略 combines 田 (field) with 各 for sound; the described idea is walking around a field to outline it.

Open 略 →
Appears in
Communication & Speech

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