The Meaning of fukuzatsu [複雑] In Japanese

複雑
ふくざつ
Romaji: fukuzatsu N3

What does 複雑 mean?

Translation and Meaning

complex, complicated, intricate

Definition

What does 複雑 mean? It denotes something that is not simple because it consists of multiple parts or factors interacting in ways that make understanding, analysis, or prediction difficult. The core idea is interdependence and layered structure, whether in tangible objects or abstract ideas.

Type

Adjective (na-adjective)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Complexity arising from many interrelated parts or factors in a system, process, or situation.
  • A mental or emotional state that involves multiple conflicting considerations, making decisions less straightforward.
  • Used in formal and technical contexts to characterize problems, theories, or designs as non-straightforward or intricate.

Composition

  • 複: conveys multiplicity or repetition; used to mark something as more than one or having layers
  • 雑: means mixed or miscellaneous; adds sense of variety and disorder

Usage

Used as a na-adjective to modify nouns with 〜な; common in formal writing, media, and everyday speech; collocations include 複雑な問題, 複雑な構造, 複雑さ; in predicates it appears as 複雑だ or 複雑です; often contrasted with 簡単 or 単純 to emphasize difficulty or sophistication.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture two layers of fabric (複) wrapped around a tangle of threads (雑) to remember that many parts together create something not simple.

Variations

  • 複雑性 (ふくざつせい) — fukuzatsusei: complexity
  • 煩雑 (はんざつ) — hanzatsu: tedious/complicated
  • 入り組んだ (いりくんだ) — irikunda: intricate, convoluted
  • 単純 (たんじゅん) — tanjun: simple (antonym)

Example Phrases

  • 複雑な手続きに困りつつ、私は列に並んで書類を提出した。
    Fukuzatsu na tetsuzuki ni komoritsutsu, watashi wa retsu ni narande shorui o teishutsushita.
    While I was troubled by the complex procedure, I lined up to submit the documents.
    Lista:
    • 複雑な手続きに困りつつ、私は列に並んで書類を提出した (Fukuzatsu na tetsuzuki ni komoritsutsu, watashi wa retsu ni narande shorui o teishutsushita) – direct translation in en
    核心点: O termo 「複雑」 funciona como na-adjetivo; aqui aparece como 複雑な before 手続き; つつ expressa ‘enquanto’ (ação simultânea) neste contexto.
複雑