単純

• Reading: たんじゅん
• Romaji: tanjun
• Kanji breakdown: 単 (tan) — single, simple; 純 (jun) — pure, genuine
• Pronunciation: /taɴ.d͡ʑɯɴ/

Meaning

Simple; uncomplicated; naive. Describes something straightforward or lacking complexity.

A na-adjective and noun with two nuances. Positively, it means 'simple' or 'straightforward': 単純な作業 (a simple task), 単純な仕組み (a simple mechanism). Negatively, it can imply naivety or simplistic thinking: 単純な人 (a naive/gullible person). Often paired with に: 単純に考える (to think simply). Contrasts with 複雑 (fukuzatsu, complex).

Examples

1. この問題は見た目より単純だった。 This problem turned out to be simpler than it looked.
2. 彼は単純だからすぐ人を信じてしまう。 He's so naive that he believes people right away.
3. 単純に好きか嫌いかで決めていい。 You can just decide based on whether you like it or not.

Usage Guide

Context: analysis, daily life, personality

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 単 (tan, single/simple) and 純 (jun, pure/genuine). Together, 'purely single' — without mixture or complication.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal