# 簡

| 簡 | U+7C21, &#31777; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-7C21 |
| ← 簠 [U+7C20] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 簢 → [U+7C22] |

## Translingual
### Han character

簡 (Kangxi radical 118, 竹+12, 18 strokes, cangjie input 竹日弓日 (HANA), four-corner 8822$_7$, composition ⿱𥫗間)

#### Related characters

* 𥳑 (Kangxi dictionary form)

#### Derived characters

* 㶕(𰝗) 𡅉 𪦴 𣠰 𤓃 𫌙 𨰝

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: not present, would follow page 901, character 28
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 26520
* Dae Jaweon: page 1325, character 7
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 5, page 3017, character 15
* Unihan data for U+7C21

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

* Historical forms of the character 簡
* Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
* Small seal script
| | Old Chinese |
| 間 | *kreːn, *kreːns |
| 簡 | *kreːnʔ |
| 澗 | *kreːns, *kraːns |
| 鐧 | *kreːns, *kraːns |
| 蕑 | *kreːn |
| 覵 | *kreːn, *kreːns, *pkrenʔ |
| 襉 | *kreːnʔ, *kreːns |
| 僩 | *kreːnʔ, *ɡraːnʔ |
| 鬜 | *kʰreːn, *kʰraːn, *kʰreːd |
| 癇 | *ɡreːn |
| 瞯 | *ɡreːn |
| 憪 | *ɡreːn, *ɡraːnʔ |
| 橌 | *ɡraːnʔ |
| 撊 | *ɡraːnʔ |
Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *kreːnʔ): semantic 竹 + phonetic 間 (OC *ɡreːn)

### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): jiǎn (jian$^3$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄐㄧㄢˇ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): gaan$^2$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): kién / kián
    (Hailu, HRS): gien$^ˊ$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): gian$^3$
* Eastern Min (BUC): gāng
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): gang$^3$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): kán
    (Teochew, Peng'im): gang$^2$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^5$ci
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: jiǎn
*** Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄢˇ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: jiǎn
*** Wade–Giles: chien$^3$
*** Yale: jyǎn
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jean
*** Palladius: цзянь (czjanʹ)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡ɕi̯ɛn²¹⁴/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: gaan$^2$
*** Yale: gáan
*** Cantonese Pinyin: gaan$^2$
*** Guangdong Romanization: gan$^2$
*** Sinological IPA : /kaːn³⁵/
* Hakka
** (Northern Sixian, incl. Miaoli)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kién
*** Hakka Romanization System: gien$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: gian$^3$
*** Sinological IPA: /ki̯en³¹/
** (Southern Sixian, incl. Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kián
*** Hakka Romanization System: gian$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: gian$^3$
*** Sinological IPA: /ki̯an³¹/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: gien$^ˊ$
*** Sinological IPA: /kien²⁴/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: gian$^3$
*** Sinological IPA: /kian³¹/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: gāng
*** Sinological IPA : /kaŋ³³/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: gang$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /kaŋ⁴⁵³/
** (Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: gang$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /kaŋ³³²/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kán
*** Tâi-lô: kán
*** Phofsit Daibuun: karn
*** IPA (Xiamen): /kan⁵³/
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /kan⁵⁵⁴/
*** IPA (Zhangzhou): /kan⁵³/
*** IPA (Taipei): /kan⁵³/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /kan⁴¹/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: gang$^2$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: káng
*** Sinological IPA : /kaŋ⁵²/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^5$ci
*** MiniDict: ci$^去$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^2$ji
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡ɕi³⁴/
* Middle Chinese: keanX
Rime :
| Character | 簡 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| Initial (聲) | 見 (28) |
| Final (韻) | 山 (73) |
| Tone (調) | Rising (X) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | II |
| Fanqie | 古限切 |
| Baxter | keanX |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /kˠɛn$^X$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /kᵚæn$^X$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /kæn$^X$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /kəɨn$^X$/ |
| Li Rong | /kɛn$^X$/ |
| Wang Li | /kæn$^X$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /kăn$^X$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | jiǎn |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | gaan$^2$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*kˤre[n]ʔ/
    (Zhengzhang): /*kreːnʔ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 簡 | 簡 |
| Reading # | 1/2 | 2/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | jiǎn | jiǎn |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ kɛn$^X$ › | ‹ kɛn$^X$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*kˁre[n]ʔ/ | /*kˁre[n]ʔ/ |
| English | bamboo slip for writing | select, large-minded, etc. |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. |||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 簡 |
| Reading # | 1/1 |
| No. | 6227 |
| Phonetic component | 閒 |
| Rime group | 元 |
| Rime subdivision | 2 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 簡 |
| Old Chinese | /*kreːnʔ/ |

### Etymology 1
#### Definitions

簡
* bamboo slip
* letter; epistle
* simple; uncomplicated
* terse; succinct; pithy; concise; brief; to the point
* to simplify
* to treat coldly; to give the cold-shoulder; to neglect
* to select; to choose; to pick
* a surname, Jian

##### Synonyms

* (letter):
* 信
* 信件 (xìnjiàn)
* 信函 (xìnhán)
* 信札 (xìnzhá)
* 八行 (bāháng) (literary)
* 八行書 / 八行书 (bāhángshū) (literary)
* 函件 (hánjiàn)
* 尺牘 / 尺牍 (chǐdú) (literary)
* 尺素 (chǐsù) (literary, figurative)
* 手書 / 手书 (shǒushū) (literary)
* 手簡 / 手简 (shǒujiǎn) (literary)
* 書 / 书 (shū) (literary, or in compounds)
* 書信 / 书信 (shūxìn) (formal)
* 書函 / 书函 (shūhán)
* 書札 / 书札 (shūzhá) (literary)
* 書牘 / 书牍 (shūdú) (literary)
* 書簡 / 书简 (shūjiǎn) (literary)
* 筆札 / 笔札 (bǐzhá) (literary, figurative)
* 鴻 / 鸿 (hóng) (literary, figurative)
* (simple):
* 不複雜 / 不复杂 (bù fùzá)
* 單純 / 单纯 (dānchún)
* 淺易 / 浅易 (qiǎnyì)
* 簡單 / 简单 (jiǎndān)
* 簡易 / 简易 (jiǎnyì)
* 輕巧 / 轻巧 (qīngqiǎo)
* (terse):
* 扼要 (èyào)
* 概括 (gàikuò)
* 簡明 / 简明 (jiǎnmíng)
* 簡潔 / 简洁 (jiǎnjié)
* 簡練 / 简练 (jiǎnliàn)
* 簡要 / 简要 (jiǎnyào)
* 精簡 / 精简 (jīngjiǎn)
* 精粹 (jīngcuì)
* 精練 / 精练 (jīngliàn)
* (to simplify):
* 簡化 / 简化 (jiǎnhuà)
* 精簡 / 精简 (jīngjiǎn)
* (to treat coldly):
* 侮慢 (wǔmàn) (literary)
* 冷淡 (lěngdàn)
* 冷落 (lěngluò)
* 怠慢 (dàimàn)
* 慢待 (màndài)
* 晾 (liàng)
* 簡慢 / 简慢 (jiǎnmàn)
* 輕侮 / 轻侮 (qīngwǔ)
* 陵暴 (língbào) (literary)
* (to select):
* 取 (qǔ)
* 取捨 / 取舍 (qǔshě)
* 抉擇 / 抉择 (juézé)
* 挑選 / 挑选 (tiāoxuǎn)
* 掄 / 抡 (lún) (literary)
* 採擇 / 采择 (cǎizé)
* 揀 / 拣 (jiǎn)
* 揀擇 / 拣择 (Zhangzhou Hokkien)
* 揀選 / 拣选 (jiǎnxuǎn)
* 摘
* 摘揀 / 摘拣 (Hokkien)
* 相中
* 看中 (kànzhòng)
* 選中 / 选中 (xuǎnzhòng)
* 選取 / 选取 (xuǎnqǔ)
* 選定 / 选定 (xuǎndìng)
* 選擇 / 选择 (xuǎnzé)

##### Antonyms

* (antonym(s) of “simple”): 繁 (fán)

##### Compounds

* 一切從簡 / 一切从简 (yīqiècóngjiǎn)
* 最簡分數 / 最简分数 (zuìjiǎn fēnshù)
* 刪繁就簡 / 删繁就简
* 刪蕪就簡 / 删芜就简
* 化繁為簡 / 化繁为简 (huàfánwéijiǎn)
* 四料簡 / 四料简
* 因陋就簡 / 因陋就简
* 夷簡 / 夷简
* 妙簡 / 妙简
* 寒微簡陋 / 寒微简陋
* 小簡 / 小简
* 尺簡 / 尺简
* 山簡醉酒 / 山简醉酒
* 工作簡化 / 工作简化
* 從俗就簡 / 从俗就简
* 從簡 / 从简 (cóngjiǎn)
* 手簡 / 手简 (shǒujiǎn)
* 折簡 / 折简
* 披沙簡金 / 披沙简金
* 招生簡章 / 招生简章
* 抽簡祿馬 / 抽简禄马
* 排沙簡金 / 排沙简金
* 政清獄簡 / 政清狱简
* 政簡刑清 / 政简刑清
* 文簡意深 / 文简意深
* 斷簡殘篇 / 断简残篇
* 斷簡殘編 / 断简残编
* 斷編殘簡 / 断编残简 (duànbiāncánjiǎn)
* 書簡 / 书简 (shūjiǎn)
* 書缺簡脫 / 书缺简脱
* 木簡 / 木简 (mùjiǎn)
* 梁簡文帝
* 梨花簡 / 梨花简
* 樓蘭晉簡 / 楼兰晋简
* 殘篇斷簡 / 残篇断简 (cánpiānduànjiǎn)
* 殘編斷簡 / 残编断简 (cánbiānduànjiǎn)
* 殘章斷簡 / 残章断简
* 汗簡 / 汗简
* 流沙墜簡 / 流沙坠简
* 深居簡出 / 深居简出 (shēnjūjiǎnchū)
* 漢簡 / 汉简
* 狂簡 / 狂简 (kuángjiǎn)
* 玉簡 / 玉简
* 琅簡蘂書 / 琅简蕊书
* 甄煩就簡 / 甄烦就简
* 白簡 / 白简
* 省煩從簡 / 省烦从简
* 短簡 / 短简
* 竹簡 / 竹简 (zhújiǎn)
* 竹簡文 / 竹简文
* 簡介 / 简介 (jiǎnjiè)
* 簡任 / 简任
* 簡便 / 简便 (jiǎnbiàn)
* 簡儀 / 简仪
* 簡兮 / 简兮
* 簡冊 / 简册 (jiǎncè)
* 簡分數 / 简分数
* 簡別 / 简别
* 簡則 / 简则 (jiǎnzé)
* 簡勁 / 简劲
* 簡化 / 简化 (jiǎnhuà)
* 簡化字 / 简化字 (jiǎnhuàzì)
* 簡化漢字 / 简化汉字
* 簡史 / 简史 (jiǎnshǐ)
* 簡古 / 简古
* 簡單 / 简单 (jiǎndān)
* 簡單再生產 / 简单再生产
* 簡單勞動 / 简单劳动
* 簡單協作 / 简单协作
* 簡單商品生產 / 简单商品生产
* 簡單明瞭 / 简单明了 (jiǎndān-míngliǎo)
* 簡單機械 / 简单机械 (jiǎndān jīxiè)
* 簡在帝心 / 简在帝心
* 簡坡 / 简坡 (Jiǎnpō)
* 簡報 / 简报 (jiǎnbào)
* 簡子 / 简子
* 簡字 / 简字 (jiǎnzì)
* 簡字譜錄 / 简字谱录
* 簡孚 / 简孚
* 簡寫 / 简写 (jiǎnxiě)
* 簡屍 / 简尸
* 簡市 / 简市 (Jiǎnshì)
* 簡帖 / 简帖
* 簡帛書 / 简帛书 (jiǎnbóshū)
* 簡式 / 简式
* 簡弛 / 简弛
* 簡忽 / 简忽
* 簡愛 / 简爱
* 簡慢 / 简慢 (jiǎnmàn)
* 簡截 / 简截
* 簡截了當 / 简截了当
* 簡拔 / 简拔 (jiǎnbá)
* 簡括 / 简括 (jiǎnkuò)
* 簡捷 / 简捷 (jiǎnjié)
* 簡斷 / 简断
* 簡斷截說 / 简断截说
* 簡易 / 简易 (jiǎnyì)
* 簡明 / 简明 (jiǎnmíng)
* 簡易師範 / 简易师范
* 簡明扼要 / 简明扼要 (jiǎnmíng èyào)
* 簡書 / 简书
* 簡札 / 简札
* 簡本 / 简本 (jiǎnběn)
* 簡板 / 简板
* 簡核 / 简核
* 簡樸 / 简朴 (jiǎnpǔ)
* 簡歷 / 简历 (jiǎnlì)
* 簡況 / 简况
* 簡派 / 简派 (jiǎnpài)
* 簡潔 / 简洁 (jiǎnjié)
* 簡版 / 简版
* 簡牘 / 简牍 (jiǎndú)
* 簡牘學 / 简牍学
* 簡狄 / 简狄
* 簡略 / 简略 (jiǎnlüè)
* 簡直 / 简直 (jiǎnzhí)
* 簡省 / 简省 (jiǎnshěng)
* 簡短 / 简短 (jiǎnduǎn)
* 簡稱 / 简称 (jiǎnchēng)
* 簡稽 / 简稽
* 簡窳 / 简窳
* 簡策楮墨 / 简策楮墨
* 簡簡 / 简简
* 簡約 / 简约 (jiǎnyuē)
* 簡素 / 简素 (jiǎnsù)
* 簡編 / 简编
* 簡緣 / 简缘
* 簡練 / 简练 (jiǎnliàn)
* 簡縮 / 简缩 (jiǎnsuō)
* 簡缺 / 简缺
* 簡能 / 简能
* 簡表 / 简表
* 簡裝 / 简装 (jiǎnzhuāng)
* 簡要 / 简要 (jiǎnyào)
* 簡訊 / 简讯 (jiǎnxùn)
* 簡諧運動 / 简谐运动 (jiǎnxiéyùndòng)
* 簡譜 / 简谱 (jiǎnpǔ)
* 簡辰 / 简辰
* 簡釋 / 简释
* 簡閱 / 简阅
* 簡闊 / 简阔
* 簡陋 / 简陋 (jiǎnlòu)
* 簡雅 / 简雅
* 簡章 / 简章 (jiǎnzhāng)
* 簡體 / 简体 (jiǎntǐ)
* 簡體字 / 简体字 (jiǎntǐzì)
* 簡點 / 简点
* 籮簡 / 箩简
* 精簡 / 精简 (jīngjiǎn)
* 羅袍象簡 / 罗袍象简
* 脫簡 / 脱简
* 芟繁就簡 / 芟繁就简
* 苟簡 / 苟简
* 蠹簡 / 蠹简
* 襆頭象簡 / 幞头象简
* 言簡意賅 / 言简意赅 (yánjiǎnyìgāi)
* 詞清訟簡 / 词清讼简
* 象簡 / 象简 (xiàngjiǎn)
* 輕裝簡從 / 轻装简从
* 輕車簡從 / 轻车简从
* 辭簡意足 / 辞简意足
* 逢簡 / 逢简 (Féngjiǎn)
* 遺編絕簡 / 遗编绝简
* 郵簡 / 邮简 (yóujiǎn)
* 錯簡 / 错简 (cuòjiǎn)
* 鐵簡 / 铁简
* 青簡 / 青简
* 頭腦簡單 / 头脑简单
* 魚鼓簡板 / 鱼鼓简板

### Etymology 2

Borrowed from English Jane.

#### Definitions

簡
* A transliteration of the English female given name Jane

### References

* “簡”, in 重編國語辭典修訂本 [Revised Mandarin Chinese Dictionary] (in Chinese), National Academy for Educational Research (Taiwan), 2021.
* Proper Names And Translation Service, Xinhua News Agency, editor (1993), “Jane 簡 [英]”, in 世界人名翻译大辞典 [Names of The Worlds Peoples: A comprehensive dictionary of names in Roman-Chinese] (in Chinese), Beijing: China Translation & Publishing Corporation, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 1374.

## Japanese

| Shinjitai | 簡 |
| Kyūjitai | 𥳑 |

### Kanji

(Sixth grade kyōiku kanji, shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai form 𥳑)
* simple
* terse, brief, succinct

#### Readings

* Go-on: けん (ken)
* Kan-on: かん (kan, Jōyō)
* Kun: ふだ (fuda, 簡)、えらぶ (erabu, 簡ぶ)

### Etymology 1

* Kanji in this term
* 簡
* かん Grade: 6
* kan'on
From Middle Chinese 簡 (MC keanX).

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) かん [káꜜǹ] (Atamadaka –)
* IPA: [kã̠ɴ]

#### Adjective

簡(かん) • (kan) -na (adnominal 簡(かん)な (kan na), adverbial 簡(かん)に (kan ni))
* brief; simple

##### Inflection

Stem forms :
| Imperfective (未然形) | 簡だろ | かんだろ | kan daro |
| Continuative (連用形) | 簡で | かんで | kan de |
| Terminal (終止形) | 簡だ | かんだ | kan da |
| Attributive (連体形) | 簡な | かんな | kan na |
| Hypothetical (仮定形) | 簡なら | かんなら | kan nara |
| Imperative (命令形) | 簡であれ | かんであれ | kan de are |
| Key constructions ||||
| Informal negative | 簡ではない 簡じゃない | かんではない かんじゃない | kan de wa nai kan ja nai |
| Informal past | 簡だった | かんだった | kan datta |
| Informal negative past | 簡ではなかった 簡じゃなかった | かんではなかった かんじゃなかった | kan de wa nakatta kan ja nakatta |
| Formal | 簡です | かんです | kan desu |
| Formal negative | 簡ではありません 簡じゃありません | かんではありません かんじゃありません | kan de wa arimasen kan ja arimasen |
| Formal past | 簡でした | かんでした | kan deshita |
| Formal negative past | 簡ではありませんでした 簡じゃありませんでした | かんではありませんでした かんじゃありませんでした | kan de wa arimasen deshita kan ja arimasen deshita |
| Conjunctive | 簡で | かんで | kan de |
| Conditional | 簡なら（ば） | かんなら（ば） | kan nara (ba) |
| Provisional | 簡だったら | かんだったら | kan dattara |
| Volitional | 簡だろう | かんだろう | kan darō |
| Adverbial | 簡に | かんに | kan ni |
| Degree | 簡さ | かんさ | kansa |

#### Noun

簡(かん) • (kan)
* brevity; simplicity

### Etymology 2

* Kanji in this term
* 簡
* ふだ Grade: 6
* kun'yomi
For pronunciation and definitions of 簡 – see the following entry. :
| 【札ふだ】4 | [noun] a card, a plate, a tag [noun] playing card Alternative spellings ふみだ, ふんだ |
(This term, 簡, is an alternative spelling of the above term.) :

### References

* ↑ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN

## Korean
### Etymology

From Middle Chinese 簡 (MC keanX). Recorded as Middle Korean 간〯 (kǎn) (Yale: kǎn) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.

### Pronunciation

* (simple; concise; etc.):
** (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ka̠n]
** Phonetic hangul: [간]
* (in 간이 (簡易, gani)):
** (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ka̠(ː)n]
** Phonetic hangul: [간(ː)]
*** Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.
* (letter; to select; etc.):
** (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ka̠(ː)n]
** Phonetic hangul: [간(ː)]
*** Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

### Hanja

Wikisource 簡 (eumhun 대쪽 간 (daejjok gan))
* hanja form of 간 (“simple; uncomplicated”)
* hanja form of 간 (“concise; brief”)
* hanja form of 간 (“letter; epistle”)
* hanja form of 간 (“to select; to choose; to pick”)

#### Compounds

* 간결 (簡潔, gan'gyeol)
* 간고 (簡古, gan'go)
* 간단 (簡單, gandan)
* 간독 (簡牘, gandok)
* 간략 (簡略, gallyak)
* 간만 (簡慢, ganman)
* 간법 (簡法, ganbeop)
* 간서 (簡書, ganseo)
* 간소 (簡素, ganso)
* 간약 (簡約, ganyak)
* 간요 (簡要, ganyo)
* 간이 (簡易, gani)
* 간지 (簡紙, ganji)
* 간찰 (簡札, ganchal)
* 간출 (簡出, ganchul)
* 간택 (簡擇, gantaek)
* 간편 (簡便, ganpyeon)
* 서간 (書簡, seogan)

### References

* 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

## Vietnamese
### Han character

簡: Hán Nôm readings: giản, dẳng, dớn, giỡn, nhởn, dần, dẵng, giảm, giằn
* This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.