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简要 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
简要jiǎnyàoconciseHSK 7, a, 22 strokes, rank #18172, Very Hard
简要jiǎnyàobriefHSK 7, a, 22 strokes, rank #18172, Very Hard
jiǎnyào(jian3yao4)jian yao T3
  1. 1concise
  2. 2brief
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March 24, 2026

简要(簡要)jiǎnyào(jian3yao4)

简要 (jiǎn yào) refers to something that is concise and brief, often used to describe summaries or explanations that convey essential information without unnecessary details. It is commonly used in formal contexts, such as reports or presentations, where clarity and brevity are valued.

Strokes22Frequency#18172DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese academic and professional settings, being concise is often seen as a sign of respect for the audience's time and attention. The value placed on brevity contrasts with more elaborate styles that may be appreciated in some Western contexts.

Memory tip

Think of 简 (jiǎn) as 'simple' and 要 (yào) as 'to need'—together they remind you that to be concise, you need to keep things simple and to the point. Imagine a teacher telling students to 'keep it simple' when summarizing a long lesson.

Meanings of 简要

jiǎnyào(jian3yao4)
1concise
2brief
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 简要

简要Simplified
簡要Traditional
22Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#18172Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 简要

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AI Study Notes for 简要

Quick Contrast

概括 (gàikuò) vs 简要 (jiǎnyào): use 简要 for brief descriptions or summaries, while 概括 emphasizes a broader summarization.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 简要 with related words like 简单 (jiǎn dān, simple) or 摘要 (zhāi yào, abstract). It's important to note that 简要 emphasizes brevity in expression, while 简单 focuses on simplicity. Use this term in formal writing and presentations to convey efficiency.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 学生 should connect 简要 to other advanced vocabulary related to summarization, like 总结 (zǒng jié, conclusion) and 概括 (gài kuò, generalization). Focus on using it in context to practice its application in summarizing concepts.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 简要 with the word 简单, thinking they mean the same. For example, saying '这本书是简要的' (This book is simple) instead of '这本书是简要的总结' (This book is a brief summary) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 简要

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Component Characters

简jiǎnsimple
HSK 313 strokes⺮
View full entry
要yàoto want
HSK 19 strokes覀
View full entry

How to say concise in Chinese

“concise” in Chinese is简要jiǎnyào

简要 (jiǎn yào) refers to something that is concise and brief, often used to describe summaries or explanations that convey essential information without unnecessary details. It is commonly used in formal contexts, such as reports or presentations, where clarity and brevity are valued.

When to use 简要

Learners often confuse 简要 with related words like 简单 (jiǎn dān, simple) or 摘要 (zhāi yào, abstract). It's important to note that 简要 emphasizes brevity in expression, while 简单 focuses on simplicity. Use this term in formal writing and presentations to convey efficiency.

简要 or something close to it

概括 (gàikuò) vs 简要 (jiǎnyào): use 简要 for brief descriptions or summaries, while 概括 emphasizes a broader summarization.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 简要 with the word 简单, thinking they mean the same. For example, saying '这本书是简要的' (This book is simple) instead of '这本书是简要的总结' (This book is a brief summary) is incorrect.

Write 简要

简
要

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Grammar Patterns of 简要

简要 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高,not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

首相已听取了她议会助手的____汇报。

The Prime Minister has been briefed by her parliamentary aides.

Example Sentences for 简要 (3)

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1
首相已听取了她议会助手的简要汇报。

shǒu xiāng yǐ tīng qǔ le tā yì huì zhù shǒu de jiǎn yào huì bào。

The Prime Minister has been briefed by her parliamentary aides.
2
导游简要地介绍了那个遗址的历史。

dǎo yóu jiǎn yào dì jiè shào le nà gè yí zhǐ de lì shǐ。

A guide gives a brief talk on the history of the site.
3
我们先简要地回顾一下英国的统计数字,当然还未全面.

wǒ mén xiān jiǎn yào dì huí gù yī xià yīng guó de tǒng jì shù zì, , dāng rán huán wèi quán.

We begin with a brief and necessarily incomplete review of UK statistics.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 简要

You can say, '请给我一个简要的总结' (Please give me a brief summary).

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