簡
simplicity · brevity
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of bamboo and between. Simply between bamboo.
Symbolism
Simple, concise, letter. Represents simplicity.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Bustle of the city
Component Breakdown
bamboo + 間
Words & Expressions
Words written with 簡
Four-Character Compounds
直截簡明
ちょくせつかんめい
plain and simple; straightforward
簡単明瞭
かんたんめいりょう
simple and clear
簡潔明瞭
かんけつめいりょう
clear and concise
簡明直截
かんめいちょくせつ
simple and plain; frank, direct and unambivalent; straightforward
Proverbs & Idioms
簡にして要を得る
かんにしてようをえる
Simple yet to the point
Being concise while capturing the essence
Other kanji with the same meaning
“brevity”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 簡 mean in Japanese?
簡 means simplicity, brevity.
How do you read 簡?
On'yomi: カン、ケン (KAN, KEN). Kun'yomi: えら.ぶ、ふだ (erabu, fuda).
How many strokes does 簡 have?
簡 has 18 strokes. Its radical is 竹 (bamboo).
Is 簡 a good kanji for a tattoo?
簡 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means simplicity, brevity. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:brevity