複雑

• Reading: ふくざつ
• Romaji: fukuzatsu
• Kanji breakdown: 複 (fuku) — duplicate, multiple; 雑 (zatsu/zou) — miscellaneous, mixed
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.kɯ.za.t͡sɯ/

Meaning

Complex; complicated; intricate. Describes things that have many interrelated parts or are difficult to understand.

A na-adjective that also functions as a noun. Takes な before nouns (複雑な問題 = complicated problem) and に before verbs (複雑になる = to become complicated). Often used for feelings (複雑な気持ち), systems, and situations. The opposite is 簡単 (kantan, simple).

Examples

1. この問題はとても複雑で分かりにくいです。 This problem is very complex and hard to understand.
2. 彼女の気持ちは複雑だったようです。 Her feelings seemed to be complicated.
3. 東京の電車の路線は複雑だと思います。 I think Tokyo's train network is complicated.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, study, emotions

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 複 (fuku, duplicate/multiple) and 雑 (zatsu, miscellaneous/mixed). Together they convey something with many mixed elements — complexity.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal