简 jiǎn — bamboo slip; simple · English

简

jiǎn

bamboo slip; simple

At a glance · 简

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从竹，間声，本义为竹片（书写材料）。形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为编联的竹片（书），引申为简略。

Structure

形声字，从竹（意符，竹简），間（jiān）为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinjiǎn

Radical竹

Strokes13

UnicodeU+7B80

Character type形声

Theme器物

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English bamboo slip; simple A bamboo writing slip; also simple.

Français lamelle; simple Une lamelle de bambou ; aussi simple.

Español tira de bambú; simple Una tira de bambú ; también simple.

العربية لوح خيزران؛ بسيط لوح خيزران؛ ويُستعار لـ«بسيط».

Русский бамбуковая планка; простой Бамбуковая планка; также простой.

Common words

简单jiǎn dānsimple
简jiǎnbrief

◉ Listen