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Simplicity: Simple, Clean, Neat

Keywords
단순하다 / 깨끗하다 / 깔끔하다
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Basic Vocabulary
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TL;DR — 5 Words for This Lesson
  • 단순하다 — simple
  • 깨끗하다 — clean
  • 깔끔하다 — neat / tidy
  • 복잡하다 — complicated / complex
  • 지저분하다 — messy / untidy
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Iru's Note: These five words are perfect for describing rooms, designs, schedules, and even people's style! Once you know how to say something is 단순하다 or 복잡하다, 깨끗하다 or 지저분하다, you can describe almost any space or situation.
Example sentence using all 5 words: "이 방은 깨끗하고 깔끔해서 정말 좋아요. 가구도 단순한 디자인이라서 전혀 복잡하지 않아요. 예전에는 지저분했는데 지금은 완전히 달라졌어요!"
When you're ready, the next lesson is <mention-page url="
🌸
Visuals: Pretty, Cool, Beautiful"> — Visuals: Pretty, Cool, Beautiful.

🎯 Big Picture

Whether you're describing a minimalist apartment, a confusing subway map, or a friend's tidy desk, these five words let you talk about simplicity, cleanliness, and order — or the lack of it! All five are 하다-type adjectives, which makes their conjugation nice and consistent.

📖 Core Vocabulary Family

1. 단순하다 (simple)

Describes something that is simple, plain, or uncomplicated — often used for designs, ideas, or ways of thinking.
  • 이 디자인은 단순하지만 예뻐요. (This design is simple but pretty.)
  • 제 생각은 단순해요. 그냥 쉬고 싶어요. (My thinking is simple. I just want to rest.)
Grammar note: 단순하다 is a regular 하다 adjective: 단순하 + 여요 → 단순해요.

2. 깨끗하다 (clean)

Describes something free of dirt, dust, or stains — physical cleanliness.
  • 방을 청소해서 정말 깨끗해요. (I cleaned the room, so it's really clean.)
  • 이 물은 깨끗해서 마실 수 있어요. (This water is clean, so you can drink it.)
Grammar note: Regular 하다 adjective: 깨끗하 + 여요 → 깨끗해요.

3. 깔끔하다 (neat / tidy)

Describes something that is neat, well-organized, or has a tidy, polished look — often about style or arrangement, not just dirt.
  • 그 사람은 옷차림이 항상 깔끔해요. (That person's outfit is always neat.)
  • 책상이 깔끔하게 정리되어 있어요. (The desk is neatly organized.)
Grammar note: Regular 하다 adjective: 깔끔하 + 여요 → 깔끔해요.

4. 복잡하다 (complicated / complex)

Describes something that is complicated, crowded, or hard to follow — can apply to situations, places, or instructions.
  • 이 문제는 너무 복잡해요. (This problem is too complicated.)
  • 퇴근 시간에는 길이 복잡해요. (The roads are congested during rush hour.)
Grammar note: Regular 하다 adjective: 복잡하 + 여요 → 복잡해요.

5. 지저분하다 (messy / untidy)

Describes something dirty, cluttered, or in disarray — the opposite of 깨끗하다/깔끔하다.
  • 제 방이 너무 지저분해요. (My room is so messy.)
  • 책상 위가 지저분해서 정리해야 해요. (The desk is messy, so I need to organize it.)
Grammar note: Regular 하다 adjective: 지저분하 + 여요 → 지저분해요.

🗣️ How They Work in a Sentence

  1. 이 앱은 디자인이 단순하고 깔끔해서 사용하기 편해요. (This app's design is simple and clean, so it's easy to use.)
  1. 방이 지저분할 때는 청소를 해서 깨끗하게 만들어요. (When the room is messy, I clean it to make it tidy.)
  1. 설명이 너무 복잡해서 더 단순하게 다시 설명해 주세요. (The explanation is too complicated, please explain it more simply again.)

🧱 General Formation Rule

  • All five words are regular 하다 adjectives: stem + 여요 → 해요 (단순해요, 깨끗해요, 깔끔해요, 복잡해요, 지저분해요).
  • Modifier (noun-describing) form: stem + 한 (e.g., 단순한 디자인 = simple design, 복잡한 문제 = complicated problem).
  • Adverb form: stem + 하게 (e.g., 깔끔하게 정리하다 = to organize neatly, 단순하게 생각하다 = to think simply).
  • Negation: 안 + adjective (안 복잡해요 = it's not complicated) or stem + 지 않아요 (복잡하지 않아요).
  • Past tense: stem + 했어요 (깨끗했어요 = it was clean).
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Cross-check: For official definitions and usage examples, search 단순하다, 깨끗하다, 깔끔하다, 복잡하다, and 지저분하다 on 표준국어대사전 (stdict.korean.go.kr) or korean.go.kr.

🔁 Synonym Alert

  • 깨끗하다 vs 깔끔하다 — 깨끗하다 focuses on the absence of dirt or stains (physically clean), while 깔끔하다 focuses on neatness, organization, and a polished appearance — something can be 깨끗하다 but still look cluttered, and something can be 깔끔하다 without being spotless.
  • 단순하다 vs 간단하다 — 단순하다 describes something simple in nature or design (sometimes with a slightly negative "simplistic" nuance), while 간단하다 describes something simple, brief, or easy to do, especially tasks and processes (간단한 질문 = a simple/quick question).

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  1. Don't mix up 깨끗하다 (clean, free of dirt) and 깔끔하다 (neat, well-organized) — a room can be 깨끗하다 but still messy-looking if things aren't arranged well.
  1. All five words are 하다 adjectives — don't add an extra -이에요/예요 (지저분하다 already means "is messy," so 지저분하다이에요 is incorrect).
  1. Remember the modifier form drops 다 and adds 한, not 하는 (단순한 디자인, not 단순하는 디자인 — 하는 would imply an action verb).
  1. 복잡하다 can describe both abstract complexity (a complicated problem) and physical crowding (a congested street) — context matters!
  1. Don't confuse 단순하다 (simple) with 단정하다 (neat and proper, often about appearance) — they look similar but mean different things.
단순하다, 깨끗하다, 깔끔하다, 복잡하다, 지저분하다로 공간과 디자인을 자유롭게 표현해 보세요! ✨🧹🏠
Try this exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct word from this lesson (단순하다/깨끗하다/깔끔하다/복잡하다/지저분하다), conjugated appropriately.
  1. 이 디자인은 정말 ___ (simple)요.
  1. 방을 청소해서 ___ (clean)요.
  1. 그 사람은 항상 옷차림이 ___ (neat)요.
  1. 퇴근 시간에는 길이 너무 ___ (congested)요.
  1. 제 책상이 너무 ___ (messy)요.
  1. 이 문제는 ___ (complicated)서 다시 설명해 주세요.
  1. 방을 ___ (clean) 하게 청소했어요.
  1. 책상을 ___ (neatly) 정리했어요. (use adverb form)
  1. 제 생각은 ___ (simple)요. 그냥 쉬고 싶어요.
  1. 어제는 방이 ___ (messy)는데, 오늘은 깨끗해요. (use past tense)
Answer Key
  1. 단순해 2. 깨끗해 3. 깔끔해 4. 복잡해 5. 지저분해 6. 복잡해 7. 깨끗하게 8. 깔끔하게 9. 단순해 10. 지저분했
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Vocabulary Box: 단순하다(simple), 깨끗하다(clean), 깔끔하다(neat/tidy), 복잡하다(complicated/crowded), 지저분하다(messy)
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Pitfalls Recap: 깨끗하다 (clean/no dirt) ≠ 깔끔하다 (neat/organized) · all are 하다 adjectives, no extra 이에요 · modifier form is -한, not -하는 · 복잡하다 can mean complicated OR crowded · don't confuse 단순하다 with 단정하다.
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Want more reps? Head to the Practice Hub below for 50 more questions on these words plus 10 bonus vocabulary words!
 
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Practice Hub — Time to put 단순하다, 깨끗하다, 깔끔하다, 복잡하다, and 지저분하다 to work! Along the way, you'll pick up 10 bonus words: 정리하다, 어지럽다, 화려하다, 심플하다, 산뜻하다, 정돈되다, 미니멀, 단정하다, 깔끔히, 손질하다.

Exercise 1 — Word Recall: Korean → English 🇰🇷➡️🇬🇧

  1. 단순하다
Answer Key
simple
  1. 깨끗하다
Answer Key
clean
  1. 깔끔하다
Answer Key
neat / tidy
  1. 복잡하다
Answer Key
complicated / crowded
  1. 지저분하다
Answer Key
messy / untidy
  1. 정리하다
Answer Key
to organize / tidy up
  1. 어지럽다
Answer Key
messy / cluttered / dizzy
  1. 화려하다
Answer Key
showy / flashy / extravagant
  1. 심플하다
Answer Key
simple (loanword)
  1. 산뜻하다
Answer Key
fresh / crisp

Exercise 2 — Word Recall: English → Korean 🇬🇧➡️🇰🇷

  1. to be organized / arranged
Answer Key
정돈되다
  1. minimal (loanword)
Answer Key
미니멀
  1. neat and proper (appearance)
Answer Key
단정하다
  1. neatly (adverb)
Answer Key
깔끔히
  1. to tidy up / groom
Answer Key
손질하다
  1. simple
Answer Key
단순하다
  1. clean
Answer Key
깨끗하다
  1. complicated
Answer Key
복잡하다
  1. messy
Answer Key
지저분하다
  1. neat / tidy
Answer Key
깔끔하다

Exercise 3 — Conjugation Practice 🔧

Conjugate each adjective into the polite present tense (-해요) and the modifier (-한) form.
  1. 단순하다 → present tense?
Answer Key
단순해요
  1. 깨끗하다 → present tense?
Answer Key
깨끗해요
  1. 깔끔하다 → present tense?
Answer Key
깔끔해요
  1. 복잡하다 → present tense?
Answer Key
복잡해요
  1. 지저분하다 → present tense?
Answer Key
지저분해요
  1. 단순하다 → modifier form (+ 디자인)?
Answer Key
단순한 디자인
  1. 복잡하다 → modifier form (+ 문제)?
Answer Key
복잡한 문제
  1. 깔끔하다 → adverb form (+ 정리하다)?
Answer Key
깔끔하게 정리하다
  1. 깨끗하다 → past tense?
Answer Key
깨끗했어요
  1. 지저분하다 → negative form (지 않아요)?
Answer Key
지저분하지 않아요
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Quick Reference: 단순하다(simple)/깨끗하다(clean)/깔끔하다(neat)/복잡하다(complicated)/지저분하다(messy) — all regular 하다 adjectives: stem + 해요, modifier stem + 한, adverb stem + 하게.

Exercise 4 — Sentence Translation: English → Korean ✍️

  1. This room is really clean.
Answer Key
이 방은 정말 깨끗해요.
  1. My desk is too messy.
Answer Key
제 책상이 너무 지저분해요.
  1. This design is simple but pretty.
Answer Key
이 디자인은 단순하지만 예뻐요.
  1. The roads are congested during rush hour.
Answer Key
퇴근 시간에는 길이 복잡해요.
  1. That person's outfit is always neat.
Answer Key
그 사람은 옷차림이 항상 깔끔해요.
  1. Please organize the desk.
Answer Key
책상을 정리해 주세요.
  1. My room is so cluttered, I feel dizzy.
Answer Key
제 방이 너무 어지러워요.
  1. This dress is really flashy.
Answer Key
이 옷은 정말 화려해요.
  1. The weather feels fresh and crisp today.
Answer Key
오늘 날씨가 산뜻해요.
  1. I like a minimal style.
Answer Key
저는 미니멀한 스타일을 좋아해요.

Exercise 5 — Mixed Review: Opposite Pairs ↔️

Match each word with its opposite.
  1. 단순하다 ↔ ?
Answer Key
복잡하다
  1. 깨끗하다 ↔ ?
Answer Key
지저분하다
  1. 깔끔하다 ↔ ?
Answer Key
지저분하다 / 어지럽다
  1. 정리하다 ↔ ?
Answer Key
어지럽히다 (to make a mess)
  1. 단순하다 ↔ ?
Answer Key
화려하다 (in design contexts: simple ↔ flashy/elaborate)
  1. 미니멀 ↔ ?
Answer Key
화려하다 / 복잡하다
  1. 정돈되다 ↔ ?
Answer Key
어지럽다
  1. 깔끔히 정리하다 ↔ ?
Answer Key
지저분하게 두다 (to leave messy)
  1. 단정하다 ↔ ?
Answer Key
지저분하다
  1. 복잡하다 ↔ ?
Answer Key
단순하다 / 간단하다
단순하다, 깨끗하다, 깔끔하다, 복잡하다, 지저분하다로 공간과 디자인을 자유롭게 표현해 보세요! ✨🧹🏠