adjective HSK 4
Traditional 複雜
complicated · complex · intricate
Meaning
复杂 describes something with many interconnected parts, details, or factors that make it difficult to understand or deal with. It applies to situations, problems, emotions, relationships, and systems that are not simple or straightforward.
Usage
Commonly used to describe difficult situations, tangled relationships, elaborate processes, or multifaceted problems. Often paired with negation (不复杂) to emphasize simplicity. Can describe both concrete things (机器很复杂 'the machine is complex') and abstract concepts (心情复杂 'mixed feelings').
Examples
- 01这个问题太复杂了，我们需要更多时间来研究。, .This problem is too complicated; we need more time to study it.
- 02他的心情很复杂，既高兴又担心。, .His feelings are very mixed—both happy and worried.
Characters
Common collocations
- 复杂的问题a complicated problem
- 复杂的心情mixed feelings
- 复杂的关系a complicated relationship
- 情况很复杂the situation is complicated
Antonyms
Origin
复 originally meant 'to return' or 'again', suggesting repetition or layers. 杂 means 'mixed' or 'assorted'. Together they create the sense of 'multiply mixed' or layered complexity.