simple
/ˈsɪmpl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsɪmpl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsim-pəl/ (ame, mw)
simple — adjective
- simplepositive
- simplercomparative
- simplestsuperlative
1. not difficult to do, understand, or deal with because there are not many parts o
not difficult to do, understand, or deal with because there are not many parts or steps involved
The instructions for this game are very simple — even a young child can follow them.
collocation: very simple + for emphasis
Ada showed me a simple way to fix the broken drawer without hiring anyone.
The recipe is simple: just mix the flour, eggs, and sugar in a bowl.
Eitan found a simple solution to the problem in just five minutes.
- easy
emphasizes low effort; 'simple' emphasizes lack of complexity
- straightforward
more formal; suggests clarity and logic
- uncomplicated
slightly more formal; neutral in tone
用法筆記
Common in questions and instructions. Often used with 'it' as a dummy subject: 'It is simple to check the oil level.'
常見錯誤
2. used before a noun to highlight that a particular fact, reason, or truth is the
used before a noun to highlight that a particular fact, reason, or truth is the only important one, without adding extra complications
The simple truth is that Kian forgot to buy the train tickets on time.
pattern: the simple truth/fact/reason + is that...
The simple reason we lost is that we did not practice enough as a team.
Meera gave a simple answer: she wanted to help her family move someplace safer.
The simple point is that we need more time to finish the job properly.
用法筆記
Only used before nouns (attributive position). Most common with 'fact', 'truth', 'reason', 'answer', 'point'.
3. made in a basic style with no extra decoration, patterns, or details added for s
made in a basic style with no extra decoration, patterns, or details added for show
Valentina wore a simple black dress and no jewellery to the ceremony.
collocation: simple black dress / simple white shirt
The couple chose a simple wooden table with no carvings for their new kitchen.
The hotel room had simple white walls and a single bed by the window.
Kasia prefers simple furniture without any gold handles or carvings.
用法筆記
Often used approvingly to suggest elegance through minimalism. Contrasts with 'ornate', 'fancy', or 'elaborate'.
常見錯誤
4. built from very few pieces without many connected parts or layers
built from very few pieces without many connected parts or layers
A simple knife consists of just a blade and a handle joined together.
before noun: simple + tool/device
Esteban designed a simple machine that uses only three moving parts to lift heavy boxes.
The old clock has a simple mechanism with just a few gears inside.
A simple lever can lift a heavy rock when placed in the right spot.
- basic
emphasizes minimal features rather than few parts
- elementary
suggests the simplest level; also means 'introductory'
- primitive
suggests early stage of development, not just simplicity
用法筆記
Only used before nouns (attributive position). Describes the physical composition of objects, tools, and machines.
5. describes a way of living, eating, or doing things that follows traditional or n
describes a way of living, eating, or doing things that follows traditional or natural patterns rather than modern, complicated, or artificial ones
Christopher moved to the countryside and now enjoys a simple life growing vegetables.
collocation: simple life / simple living
Inês prefers simple meals made from ingredients she grows in her own garden.
The village has kept a simple way of life that has remained unchanged for generations.
Joon enjoys simple pleasures such as walking in the forest and watching birds.
- natural
focuses on being unaffected by human intervention
- rustic
describes the countryside; can suggest roughness as well as simplicity
- unpretentious
does not try to impress; describes people or lifestyles
- elaborate
involves many details or careful planning
- artificial
not natural; made by human effort to imitate something
用法筆記
Often carries a positive, romanticized tone — suggesting that a simpler life is purer, healthier, or more authentic than a modern one.
6. old-fashioned and now often considered offensive; describes someone who has diff
old-fashioned and now often considered offensive; describes someone who has difficulty learning or understanding things that most people find easy
In the old story, the villagers call the boy 'simple' because he cannot read.
old-fashioned usage — now considered offensive
Pim read an old novel about a simple farmhand treated cruelly by his employers.
In older books, the word 'simple' described characters who were naive and easily tricked.
Valentina found old letters that called a relative 'a simple woman who never learned to read'.
用法筆記
Now widely considered offensive when referring to a person's intelligence. Modern alternatives include 'person with learning disabilities' or 'person with intellectual disabilities'. In older literature, this usage was common but should not be used today.
常見錯誤
simple — noun
1. old-fashioned and offensive; a person who is believed to lack intelligence or th
old-fashioned and offensive; a person who is believed to lack intelligence or the ability to understand ordinary things. The more common modern word is 'simpleton'.
In the play, the townspeople treat the old simple as if he cannot understand the world around him.
rare noun usage — offensive in modern English
Adisa read an old book in which a travelling simple is laughed at by the innkeeper.
The old word 'simple' once meant a person who could not care for themselves.
Historians found a diary from the 1700s that calls a local beggar 'a poor simple'.
用法筆記
Very rare in modern English. The noun 'simpleton' is more common but also considered offensive. Avoid using either to describe a real person.