간단하다 (gan-dan-ha-da, gandanhada) · 복잡하다 (bok-jap-ha-da, bokjaphada)
간단하다 and 복잡하다 express opposite concepts describing the difficulty and structural complexity of things or situations.
One lane per word — no nested boxes, just the gist.
Indicates that something is easy, not complicated, and simple.
When to use
easy procedure, simple explanation, straightforward problem
The nuance
Use 간단하다 when the process or method is easy and easy to understand. It suits situations without complicated elements and with clarity.
Indicates that something involves many intertwined elements, making it difficult and hard to understand.
When to use
difficult problem, complicated procedure, multi-step process
The nuance
Use 복잡하다 for situations with many parts or steps that are hard to understand or solve. It fits cases that are not simple and are complicated.
이 문제는 간단하다.
i mun-je-neun gan-dan-ha-da., i mun je neun gan dan ha da.
Expresses that the problem is easy and not complicated, so 간단하다 is appropriate.
이 문제는 복잡하다.
i mun-je-neun bok-jap-ha-da., i mun je neun bok jap ha da.
The problem involves many elements and indicates difficulty, so 복잡하다 is correct.
이 절차는 간단하다.
i jeol-cha-neun gan-dan-ha-da., i jeol cha neun gan dan ha da.
The procedure is easy and clear, so 간단하다 is used.
이 절차는 복잡하다.
i jeol-cha-neun bok-jap-ha-da., i jeol cha neun bok jap ha da.
The procedure has multiple steps, so 복잡하다 is suitable.
이 설명은 복잡하다.
i seol-myeong-eun bok-jap-ha-da., i seol myeong eun bok jap ha da.
The explanation has many parts and is hard to understand, so 복잡하다 is correct.
이 설명은 간단하다.
i seol-myeong-eun gan-dan-ha-da., i seol myeong eun gan dan ha da.
The explanation is clear and easy to understand, so 간단하다 is used.
이 문제는 간단하다지만 실제로는 복잡하다.
i mun-je-neun gan-dan-ha-da-ji-man sil-je-ro-neun bok-jap-ha-da., i mun je neun gan dan ha da ji man sil je ro neun bok jap ha da.
A natural sentence contrasting the two words well.
복잡하다 문제는 간단하다.
bok-jap-ha-da mun-je-neun gan-dan-ha-da., bok jap ha da mun je neun gan dan ha da.
The adjective 복잡하다 directly modifying 문제 in this order is unnatural and contradictory in meaning.
When do you use '간단하다'?
Which situation fits '복잡하다'?
Which is NOT a correct use of '간단하다'?
