TraceHanzi

简直 meaning in English

jiǎnzhí

simply; really

HSK 3adverbTraditional 簡直21 strokes

Meaning of 简直

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

jiǎnzhí
  1. simply; really

How to use 简直

简直 is an adverb that adds strong emphasis, often with a bit of exaggeration. It goes before the verb or adjective, and it often pairs with 太...了 or 像. Example: 这个菜简直太好吃了。(Zhège cài jiǎnzhí tài hǎochī le.) This dish is simply delicious.

简 (jiǎn) means simple, as in 简单 (jiǎndān), and 直 (zhí) means straight, as in 一直 (yīzhí). Put them together and you are saying something simply and straight: "It's simply..."

Common mistake: Learners sometimes use 简直 as a neutral "really" in plain statements. It works best for exaggeration or strong feeling. Also do not mix it up with 一直 (yīzhí, always), which describes time and continuity, not emphasis.

简直 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

那nà里lǐ简jiǎn直zhí不bú是shì人rén住zhù的de。
You'll find it impossible to live there.
这zhè天tiān气qì热rè死sǐ人rén了le，简jiǎn直zhí就jiù不bù愿yuàn出chū门mén。
The weather is so hot, I just don't want to go out.
我wǒ的de记jì性xìng不bù好hǎo。我wǒ简jiǎn直zhí不bú记jì得de他tā的de名míng字zì了le。
My memory failed me. I just could not remember his name.
简jiǎn直zhí就jiù像xiàng电diàn影yǐng里lǐ的de一yí幕mù一yī样yàng，不bú是shì吗ma？
It's like a scene from a movie, isn't it?
我wǒ简jiǎn直zhí不bù用yòng花huā钱qián就jiù买mǎi到dào了le。
I got it for next to nothing.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

简 jiǎn · simple · 13 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13

直 zhí · straight · 8 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8

Related words

Words that share a character with 简直.

一直yīzhístraight (in a straight line); continuously; always; all the way through
直接zhíjiēdirectly; direct
直到zhídàountil
简单jiǎndānsimple; not complicated
直播zhíbō(TV, radio) to broadcast live; live broadcast
简历jiǎnlìcurriculum vitae (CV); résumé
直线zhíxiànstraight line; sharply (rise or fall)
直升机zhíshēngjīhelicopter
简介jiǎnjièsummary; brief introduction
直觉zhíjuéintuition
正直zhèngzhíupright; upstanding
直至zhízhìlasting until; up till (the present)

Questions about 简直

What does 简直 mean?

简直 (jiǎnzhí) means "simply; really" and is used as a adverb.

How do you write 简直?

简直 is made of 2 characters: 简 (13 strokes), 直 (8 strokes). That is 21 strokes in total.

Is 简直 an HSK word?

Yes. 简直 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How is 简直 written in traditional Chinese?

In traditional characters, 简直 is written 簡直.

What is the difference between 简直 and 真 (zhēn)?

真 is a general "really" that fits almost any sentence, like 真好 (zhēn hǎo). 简直 is stronger and suggests the situation is almost unbelievable, so it often comes with 像 or an exaggerated comparison.

Can 简直 be used in negative or complaining sentences?

Yes, it is very common in complaints. For example, 你简直不讲理。(Nǐ jiǎnzhí bù jiǎnglǐ.) means "You are simply being unreasonable."

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