簡 means “simple, brief”

かん · kan

Also: simplicity, brevity

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): えらぶ, ふだ
On'yomi (Chinese reading): カン, ケン

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 6 · 18 strokes

The story

Bamboo (⺮) with gaps (間) between: picture the thin bamboo slips ancient China wrote on before paper, each with room for only a few words. Keep it short: 簡単 is simple and easy, and 簡潔 is brief and to the point.

Used in 簡単 (kantan, simple/easy), 簡潔 (kanketsu, concise), and 簡易 (kan'i, simplified/basic)

簡 means “simple, brief”

The story

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