The Meaning of kantan [簡単] In Japanese

簡単
かんたん
Romaji: kantan N5

What does 簡単 mean?

Translation and Meaning

easy, simple, uncomplicated

Definition

What does 簡単 mean? It denotes something that can be done with little difficulty, indicating a straightforward and uncomplicated task or explanation in everyday usage. The core idea is that the subject requires minimal effort to understand or perform.

Type

adjective (na-adjective)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • easy to perform or understand; often applied to tasks, instructions, or explanations
  • not complex or elaborate; implies straightforward design or method
  • may carry a nuance of accessibility or lack of challenge, sometimes with a neutral or positive tone

Composition

  • 簡 — conveys the idea of simplicity or conciseness in compounds
  • 単 — means single or one, contributing the sense of a single unit or item
  • Combined as 簡単, the word expresses a single, uncomplicated thing that is easy to handle

Usage

Used to describe tasks or explanations that are straightforward or not complicated; commonly appears in predicates with だ/です and in prenominal form 簡単な before nouns; suitable for casual and neutral contexts, including instructions, explanations, and summaries of procedures.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a single item tied together in an uncomplicated bundle; one simple task equals 簡単.

Variations

  • 易しい (yasashii) — easy, yasashii
  • 簡易な (kan’i na) — simple, kan’i na
  • 難しい (muzukashii) — difficult, muzukashii

Words with the same Meaning

Example Phrases

  • 帰宅後に 人間 の ことを 友達と 簡単に 話す。
    kitakugo ni ningen no koto o tomodachi to kantan ni hanasu.
    After returning home, I casually talk with a friend about human beings.
    Lista:
    • 帰宅後に (kitakugo ni) – after returning home
    • 人間 (ningen) – human beings
    • の (no) – of / ‘s
    • ことを (koto o) – the matter
    • 友達と (tomodachi to) – with a friend
    • 簡単に (kantan ni) – casually
    • 話す (hanasu) – talk
    Core: 「人間」 is the noun for humans; here it combines with の to make 人間のこと meaning ‘the matter about humans,’ and ことを話す means ‘talk about the matter.’
  • この レシピ は 材料 を 揃えれば 簡単 だ から 作れる。
    Kono reshipi wa zairyō o soroeraba kantan da kara tsukureru.
    If you gather the ingredients, this recipe is easy, so you can make it.
    Lista:
    • この (kono) – this
    • レシピ (reshipi) – recipe
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 材料 (zairyō) – ingredients
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 揃えれば (soroeraba) – if you gather
    • 簡単 (kantan) – easy
    • だ (da) – is
    • から (kara) – because
    • 作れる (tsukureru) – can make
    Aqui 「簡単」 funciona como um na-adjetivo; está ligado a だ para dizer ‘é fácil’ e から liga à consequência.
簡単