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简易 (jiǎn yì) — simple and easy (neutral or positive); simplistic, overly simple (mildly critical)

Definition

简易 describes methods, tools, or designs that are made simpler for ease of use, often in technical or formal contexts. Unlike 简洁 or 简练, which apply to language, 简易 applies to procedures and objects.

adjective
simple and easy (neutral or positive)simplisticoverly simple (mildly critical)

Examples

  • 简易。
    Zhè běn jiǎn yì de shuō míng shū hěn shì hé chū xué zhě.
    This simple instruction manual is very suitable for beginners.
  • 简易，。
    Zhè ge fāng àn suī rán jiǎn yì, dàn xiào guǒ bú cuò.
    Although this plan is simple, the results are good.
  • 简易？
    Nǐ jué de zhè ge shè jì huì bú huì tài jiǎn yì le?
    Do you think this design might be too simplistic?

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
易yìeasy

简 (simple) and 易 (easy) together mean plain and easy.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The early form of 易 was a drawing of a filled container, not a chameleon. It showed something full that could be given out.

Open 易 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Good & Bad

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