Adjectives / 形容词

HSK 4 容易 vs 简单

easy (to do) vs simple (not complex)

Comparison / 对比

容易 róngyì简单 jiǎndān
FocusEasy to do / likely to happenSimple, not complicated
Structure容易 + verb: 容易感冒简单 + noun: 简单的问题
Opposite难 (hard to do)复杂 (complex)
Special useProne to: 容易生气 (easily gets angry)No 'prone to' usage

Examples / 例句

容易: 冬天容易感冒，要多喝热水。
Dōngtiān róngyì gǎnmào, yào duō hē rè shuǐ.
It's easy to catch a cold in winter. (prone to / likely to)
简单: 这道题很简单，大家都会做。
Zhè dào tí hěn jiǎndān, dàjiā dōu huì zuò.
This question is simple — everyone can do it. (not complex)
Quick rule: 容易 = easy to DO (verb follows) or likely/prone to. 简单 = simple, not complicated (describes a thing). You can say 这道题很简单 AND 这道题很容易, but only 容易 works in 容易感冒 (prone to catching cold).

Fill in the Blank / 填空练习

Type the correct word to complete each sentence. Press Enter or click Check.

这个问题很，大家都会做。
冬天感冒，要多喝热水。
这件事说起来，做起来难。

Quick Quiz / 小测验

这个问题不，需要仔细想想。
The problem is not simple (not complex) → 简单.
这种天气特别让人生病。
'Prone to' / likely to → 容易.
学中文不，但是很有意思。
Not easy to DO → 容易 (describes difficulty of the action).

Real HSK 4 Test Questions Using 容易 or 简单 / 真题示例

2 actual HSK 4 questions from our mock exams that test the 容易 vs 简单 distinction:

From HSK 4 Mock Test 01 · Q60
排列顺序：
A 因为工作的需要
B 所以我去过那里几次
C 对当地的文化有一些简单的了解
A. ABC ✓B. BACC. BCA
From HSK 4 Mock Test 01 · Q97
看图，用词造句。词语：答案
他找不到答案。 ✓这个男人找不到答案。这位先生找不到答案。他正在为答案而烦恼。这个男人正在为答案而烦恼。他不知道答案。这个男人不知道答案。这个问题没有简单的答案。他想不出答案。这个男人想不出答案。找不到答案让他很头痛。他正在思考答案。这个男人正在思考答案。这个问题太难了，他不知道答案。他没有答案。他不知道答案是什么

容易 vs 简单 FAQ

Are 容易 and 简单 interchangeable in HSK 4?

No. Although 容易 (róngyì) and 简单 (jiǎndān) translate similarly into English, HSK 4 fill-in-the-blank and listening questions test exactly the distinction between them. 容易 = easy to DO (verb follows) or likely/prone to.

How is 容易 vs 简单 tested in HSK 4?

Most often in HSK 4 阅读 (reading) Part 1 选词填空 (Q46-55), where you choose the correct word for a blank in a sentence. Also appears in 听力 (listening) where the speaker uses one but the printed answer paraphrases with the other. Master both 容易 and 简单 collocations to lock in these points.

What's the quickest way to remember 容易 vs 简单?

容易 = easy to DO (verb follows) or likely/prone to. 简单 = simple, not complicated (describes a thing). You can say 这道题很简单 AND 这道题很容易, but only 容易 works in 容易感冒 (prone to catching cold). Practice 3-5 fill-in-blank questions in our HSK 4 mock exams to lock the distinction.

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Use this HSK 4 distinction in real test conditions

⚡ Strategy
HSK 4 选词填空 (Q46-55) tips
📝 Patterns
100 essential HSK 4 sentences
🔧 Grammar
HSK 4 grammar guide (14 topics)
🎯 Practice
12 HSK 4 mock exams