‘简报’ (jiǎn bào) is a compound noun meaning ‘briefing’ or ‘short report’. It combines 简 (jiǎn), meaning ‘simple’, ‘concise’, or ‘abridged’, and 报 (bào), meaning ‘report’, ‘news’, or ‘to report’. Together, they convey the idea of a condensed, focused summary—typically delivered orally or in writing—to inform others quickly about key facts, progress, or decisions. The word emphasizes brevity and clarity over detail.

This term is widely used in professional, governmental, and academic settings—for example, before meetings, after fieldwork, or during crisis response. While it can refer to written documents, it more commonly implies an oral presentation with supporting slides or bullet points. Unlike longer reports (报告, bàogào), a 简报 is time-bound (often under 15 minutes) and audience-oriented, aiming to align understanding rather than document exhaustively.