How to say "plain" in Japanese

• 地味じみJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounFor 'plain' meaning unshowy or subdued — drab colors, quiet clothing, an unflashy design or appearance. Suggests something lacking in flashiness rather than merely lacking in decoration.
  僕ぼく的てきにはもっと地味じみってか渋しぶい服ふくが欲ほしいんですけどね。↗

  For my tastes, I'd prefer plainer, or rather, more tasteful clothing.
• 平野へいやJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounOnly the geographical sense: a plain as flat, open land or countryside. For any other sense of 'plain' this is not the word you want; it never describes style, appearance or simplicity.
  私わたしたちは山やまの上うえから平野へいやを見下みおろした。↗

  We looked down on the plain from the hilltop.
• シンプルCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers 'plain' as in simple and unadorned: a plain design, style or layout. Emphasizes freedom from excess decoration, and fits wherever 'plain' and 'simple' are interchangeable.
  以上いじょうのように、実じつにシンプルな誰だれでも出来できるノウハウで十分じゅうぶんな利益りえきと顧客こきゃくは確保かくほできるのです！↗

  As shown above, it is possible to obtain ample profit and customers with truly simple know-how that anyone can do!
• 単純たんじゅんJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'plain' meaning uncomplicated or straightforward: a plain, simple structure, rule or explanation. Not a word for plain appearance or unpatterned fabric; it is about how uncomplicated something is.
  彼かれの話はなしは単純たんじゅんそのものだった。↗

  His story was simplicity itself.
• 無地むじJLPT N2approx.Common
  no-adjectiveThe word for 'plain' fabric, paper or clothing with no pattern or print, such as a plain white shirt. It means patternless or a solid color, not merely simple or subdued in taste.
  無地むじの白しろい紙かみで十分じゅうぶんです。↗

  Plain white paper will do.

Use 地味 for unshowy, subdued appearance, 無地 for unpatterned fabric or color, 「シンプル」 for simple unadorned design, 単純 for uncomplicated structure or matter, and 平野 only for flat open land.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 地味じみplain
• 平野へいやplain
• シンプルsimple
• 単純たんじゅんsimple
• 無地むじplain
• プレーンplain
• 平原へいげんplain
• 野のfield
• 容易よういeasy
• ありのままas it is
• 明瞭めいりょうclear
• 明白めいはくobvious
• 端的たんてきfrank
• 平地へいちlevel ground
• 野原のはらfield
• 簡素かんそsimple
• 粗末そまつcrude
• 質素しっそsimple
• 淡白たんぱくlight (flavor, color, etc.)
• 原っぱはらっぱopen field
• やさしいeasy
• 歴然れきぜんevident
• 平易へいいeasy
• 原はらfield
• 明らかあきらかclear
• 露骨ろこつopen
• 低地ていちdepression
• 原野げんやwaste land
• 野やplain
• 平だいらplain
• あからさまplain
• 飾り気のないかざりけのないplain
• ずんべら棒ずんべらぼうplain (e.g. face)
• ずべら坊ずべらぼうplain (e.g. face)
• あきらさまplain
• 易々いいeasy
• 野面のづら(surface of) field
• 素通しすどおしtransparent
• 変哲もないへんてつもないordinary
• 不器量ぶきりょうugly (of a person)
• 何の変哲もないなんのへんてつもないcompletely ordinary
• くだけたeasy (e.g. explanation, description)
• あるがままas it is
• 柔婉じゅうえんsimple
• 無文むもんunpatterned (e.g. clothes, pottery)
• 知れたしれたobvious
• 直截ちょくせつdirect
• 素すplain
• 淡々たんたんplain
• 平たいひらたいplain (language, words, etc.)
• さっぱりfrank
• 簡易かんいeasy
• まずいugly
• 平ひらcommon
• 平ったいひらったいplain (language, words, etc.)
• つつましいfrugal
• 赤裸々せきららunvarnished (e.g. truth)
• 赤裸せきらunvarnished (e.g. truth)
• 歴々れきれきclear
• ぶさいくugly (of a person)
• 平らたいらplateau