How to say "simple" in Japanese

• 簡単かんたんJLPT N4approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'simple' in the sense of easy — requiring little time, effort, or complication. The word you want when 'simple' could be swapped for 'easy', as with a simple task or question.
  テニスをすることは私には簡単かんたんだ。↗

  Playing tennis is easy for me.
• シンプルCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers 'simple' as plain and uncluttered — simple design, style, or ways of living. Also works for something free of unnecessary complication, and is the natural pick for aesthetic minimalism.
  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 'simple' meaning uncomplicated in structure or content — a simple mechanism, rule, or calculation. Also describes thinking or people as simple, often with a nuance of naive or oversimplified.
  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.
• 地味じみJLPT N2approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'simple' only for plain, subdued appearance — simple clothes or colors. It stresses lack of showiness and can hint that something is dull or unremarkable rather than stylishly minimal.
  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.
• 簡易かんいJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounSeldom the word you want for 'simple' in general: it really means 'simplified' or 'basic', describing stripped-down versions of things, and is found mainly in fixed expressions rather than used freely.

Use 簡単 for 'simple' meaning easy or not complicated, 「シンプル」 for plain, uncluttered style, 単純 for uncomplicated structure or thinking, 地味 for plain, subdued appearance, and 簡易 mainly in fixed expressions for simplified versions.

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

• 簡単かんたんsimple
• シンプルsimple
• 単純たんじゅんsimple
• 地味じみplain
• 簡易かんいsimple
• 素朴そぼくsimple
• 簡素かんそsimple
• 簡略かんりゃくsimple
• 質素しっそsimple
• 手軽てがるeasy
• 単たんsingle
• 単なるたんなるmere
• 容易よういeasy
• 安易あんいeasy
• 単一たんいつsingle
• たやすいeasy
• 安直あんちょくsimple
• 簡便かんべんsimple
• 生易しいなまやさしいsimple
• 淡白たんぱくlight (flavor, color, etc.)
• やさしいeasy
• 平易へいいeasy
• 平明へいめいclear
• 無造作むぞうさeasy
• 楽チンらくチンeasy-peasy
• 単簡たんかんsimple
• 質朴しつぼくsimple (and honest)
• 平淡へいたんsimple
• 世話がないせわがないsimple
• 柔婉じゅうえんsimple
• 簡易的かんいてきsimple
• 易々いいeasy
• ちょろいeasy
• 軽便けいべんhandy
• 軽易けいいeasy
• 卑近ひきんcommon
• 造作ないぞうさないno trouble
• 無技巧むぎこうartless
• わけないeasy
• 馬鹿でもチョンでもばかでもチョンでもeasy
• 造作もないぞうさもないno trouble
• お安いおやすいeasy
• 朴訥ぼくとつunsophisticated
• 楽らくeasy
• 淡々たんたんplain
• 平たいひらたいplain (language, words, etc.)
• 手っ取り早いてっとりばやいsimple
• わけがないeasy
• さっぱりfrank
• 草々そうそうsimple
• しゃしゃsimple
• へっちゃらeasy
• つつましいfrugal
• 平ったいひらったいplain (language, words, etc.)
• 直線的ちょくせんてきstraightforward
• うぶinexperienced (in love)
• おめでたいnaive
• 早いはやいeasy
• 軽いかるいeasy