シンプルshinpuru
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
- na-adjectivesimple; plain
Conjugation
| Plain form | シンプル |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | シンプルです |
| Negative (dewa nai) | シンプルではない |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | シンプルではありません |
| Past (datta) | シンプルだった |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | シンプルではなかった |
| Te form (de) | シンプルで |
| Adverbial (ni) | シンプルに |
| Conditional (nara) | シンプルなら |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
- SynonymプレーンNeutralLoanword for something unadorned or in its original state, as in 「プレーンヨーグルト」; it leans toward the plain taste of foods.
- Synonym簡素かんそWrittenA written-style word for modest simplicity that strips away excess, as in 「簡素な式」; it stresses frugality and restraint where 「シンプル」 stresses clean design.
- Synonym安直あんちょくNeutralSuggests taking the easy, careless way out, as in 「安直な発想」; it is pejorative, whereas 「シンプル」 is usually neutral.
- Synonym簡単かんたんNeutralThe everyday word for something easy or uncomplicated, as in 「簡単な問題」; far more common than 「シンプル」, which favors clean design and style.
- Synonym簡易かんいWrittenA written-style word for simplified procedures or methods, as in 「簡易書留」「簡易検査」; it stresses a streamlined process, not simple design.
- Synonym簡略かんりゃくWrittenA formal word for leaving details out to make something brief, as in 「簡略化」; it is about omission, while 「シンプル」 describes something simple in itself.
- Synonym質素しっそNeutralDescribes frugal, unpretentious living, as in 「質素な生活」; the emphasis is thrift and a plain lifestyle, not clean design.
- Synonym単純たんじゅんNeutralPoints to something uncomplicated in structure or mind, as in 「単純な作業」「単純な人」; it can sound critical, calling a person simple-minded.
- Synonym飾り気のないかざりけのないNeutralDescribes people or things free of decoration or affectation, plain and candid, as in 「飾り気のない人」; used mostly of people.
- Related素朴そぼくNeutralSuggests natural, unaffected innocence rather than streamlined design, as in 「素朴な疑問」; it leans toward artless sincerity.
- Related簡明かんめいWrittenA written word for being concise and easy to grasp, as in 「簡明な説明」; it leans toward wording and explanations, while 「シンプル」 leans toward design and style.
- Related手軽てがるNeutralMeans easy and hassle-free, as in 「手軽に作れる」; the point is low effort and convenience, not a simple look or structure.
- Related簡便かんべんWrittenA formal word for something convenient and quick to use; the focus is on ease of operation, not on a simple look or structure.
- Related何の変哲もないなんのへんてつもないCasualColloquial phrase for something utterly ordinary with nothing special about it, as in 「何の変哲もない石」; it stresses being commonplace, not simplicity.
- Antonym複雑ふくざつNeutralThe direct antonym: things so entangled they are hard to understand or handle, and by extension mixed feelings; the opposite of the simplicity of 「シンプル」.
Use 「シンプル」 for clean, uncluttered design or style, as in 「シンプルなデザイン」; for low difficulty say 「簡単」, for a frugal lifestyle 「質素」, for modest simplicity 「簡素」; 「複雑」 is the antonym. Others: plain flavor (プレーン), unadorned people (飾り気のない), ordinariness (何の変哲もない), natural innocence (素朴), concise wording (簡明), convenience (手軽・簡便), simplified procedures (簡易), omission (簡略).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


