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简约 (jiǎn yuē) — minimalist, simple and elegant (in design, style, or lifestyle); brief, concise (in speech or writing)

Definition

Adjective for a 'less-is-more' aesthetic — clean design, uncluttered style, or a lifestyle/a speech that cuts the unnecessary. Stronger than 简单 (merely simple): 简约 carries a positive sense of elegance, not just plainness.

adjective
minimalistsimple and elegant (in design, style, or lifestyle)briefconcise (in speech or writing)

Examples

  • 简约。
    Zhè ge fáng jiān de jiǎn yuē fēng gé ràng rén jué de hěn shū fu.
    The minimalist style of this room makes people feel very comfortable.
  • 简约，。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng fēi cháng jiǎn yuē, méi yǒu duō yú de huà.
    His speech was very concise, without superfluous words.
  • 简约。
    Xiàn dài rén yuè lái yuè xǐ huan jiǎn yuē de shēng huó fāng shì.
    Modern people increasingly love a minimalist lifestyle.

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
约yuērestrained

“简” means simple and “约” means restrained, together giving a concise minimalist quality.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 約; 约 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
勺
勺sháo約yuē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 約 uses 糸, a rope, for its meaning and 勺 for its sound; the simplified 约 is a later shorthand.

Open 约 →
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