How do you say "easy" in Japanese?

In Japanese, "easy" is 簡単な (Kantan na). It is a adjective pronounced "kah-n-tah-n nah".

Listen to the pronunciation:

Pronunciation

簡単な is written in kanji and hiragana. Romanised as Kantan na, it sounds roughly like "kah-n-tah-n nah" to an English ear.

Example sentence

この問題はとても簡単です。

Kono mondai wa totemo kantan desu.

This problem is very easy.

Usage notes

Kantan na (簡単な) is a na-adjective meaning simple or easy. It is one of the most useful adjectives for everyday conversation. Its opposite is muzukashii (difficult). Kantan ni means 'simply' or 'in a straightforward way.'

Related words

Practice 簡単な and hundreds more Japanese words in the game.

Buy on Steam

Questions about 簡単な

How do you pronounce 簡単な?

簡単な is romanised as Kantan na. Say it roughly like "kah-n-tah-n nah" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 簡単な formal or casual?

簡単な is a na-adjective or noun-adjective. It is neutral in register and fits naturally in both casual and polite sentences. Add na before a noun, or use desu for a polite predicate.

How is 簡単な written in Japanese?

簡単な is written using kanji and hiragana. Kanji characters carry the core meaning; any hiragana or katakana that follow show grammatical endings.

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Japanese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation.