単純(たんじゅん)

たんじゅん
na-adjective, noun
simple, simplicity
descriptive
1. simple, uncomplicated
Not complex; having few parts or elements; easy to understand.
単純(たんじゅん)な問題(もんだい)だ。
It's a simple problem.
話(はなし)を単純(たんじゅん)にすると、こういうことだ。
To put it simply, this is what it means.
単純(たんじゅん)な作業(さぎょう)だから、誰(だれ)にでもできる。
It's a simple task, so anyone can do it.
2. simple-minded, naive
Lacking depth of thought; easily fooled or led (sometimes pejorative).
彼(かれ)は単純(たんじゅん)だから、すぐ信(しん)じる。
He's simple-minded, so he believes things easily.
単純(たんじゅん)に褒(ほ)められて喜(よろこ)んでいる。
He's simply happy about being praised.
単純に = naively, simple-mindedly
そんなに単純(たんじゅん)に考(かんが)えないほうがいい。
You shouldn't think about it so simplistically.

Common patterns

  • 単純(たんじゅん)な + noun: simple (noun)
  • 単純(たんじゅん)に: simply (adverb)

Usage

  • Sense 1 is neutral/positive: uncomplicated, straightforward
  • Sense 2 can be negative: naive, gullible

Similar words

Related Words

Antonym: 複雑(ふくざつ) (complex)
Related: 簡単(かんたん) (easy, simple)
Compare: 素朴(そぼく) (Simple, naive)
Related: 単(たん)なる (mere, simple, sheer)
Compare: 単(たん)に (simply, merely)
Compare: 純粋(じゅんすい) (pure)
general
Added 2026.1.12 23:34 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
03000/03414_tanjun