Expressing “easy” with 简单 and 容易
The adjectives 简单 and 容易 have a similar meaning of “easy”, but we should use them in different contexts.
The adjective 简单
We use the adjective 简单 
to emphasize that something is easy to understand and does not require a lot of effort.
to emphasize that something is easy to understand and does not require a lot of effort.Examples
申诉的手续相当简单
The procedure for filing a complaint is quite simple
shēnsù de shǒuxù xiāngdāng jiǎndān
这台机器操作非常简单
This machine is very easy to operate
zhè tái jīqì cāozuò fēicháng jiǎndān
对那两个问题哪一个都没有简单的答案
There is no easy answer to either of those two questions
duì nà liǎng ge wèntí nǎ yí ge dōu méi yǒu jiǎndān de dá'àn
The adjective 容易
We use the adjective 容易 to emphasize that something is easy to do and does not require much effort.
to emphasize that something is easy to do and does not require much effort.Examples
戒烟不容易
It's not easy to quit smoking
jièyān bù róngyì
驾驶一辆公交车不是一项容易的工作
Driving a bus is not an easy job
jiàshǐ yí liàng gōngjiāochē bú shì yí xiàng róngyì de gōngzuò
他认为做父亲很容易
He thinks being a father is easy
tā rènwéi zuò fùqin hěn róngyì
容易 as an adverb
Sometimes 容易 can be an adverb with the meaning of “ease", "easily”. It should be stated before the verb.
Pay attention
We cannot use 简单 in that way.
Examples
这个蛋糕很容易做
This cake is easy to make
zhè ge dàngāo hěn róngyì zuò
材料很容易买到
Materials are easily available
cáiliào hěn róngyì mǎidào
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