簡

• Concrete noun: A bamboo slip (the physical medium of writing); by extension, a letter or document.
• Adjective: Succinct, terse, concise (denoting an economy of language); uncomplicated, streamlined, or easy.

Primarily functions as a noun or adjective. Use as a verb ("to simplify") is generally a later development; in early texts, verify if the glyph is a noun in apposition or part of a compound before translating it as a verb.

Distinguish from "primitive" or "naive." The simplicity denoted by 簡 refers to an intentional distillation—the result of editing or streamlining—rather than a lack of sophistication.

Tang-period reading: gɛ̌n. Variants include U+8015 (semantic) and U+7B80 (simplified).