扫描

• Pinyin: sǎo miáo
• Hanzi breakdown: 扫 = 扌(hand) + 帚 (broom) = to sweep systematically; 描 = 扌(hand) + 苗 (phonetic, miáo) = to trace/capture — 扫描 = sweep and trace = to scan

Meaning

To scan; to sweep over systematically with a device or the eyes to capture, detect, or survey.

Common in technology (document scanning, QR code scanning), medicine (CT扫描, 超声波扫描), and security (安全扫描). Also used figuratively for a quick visual survey (扫描全场 = to scan the whole room). 扫描仪 = scanner device.

Examples

1. 海关工作人员利用高精度扫描设备对所有入境集装箱进行了全面检查，有效提高了走私品的查获率。 Customs officers used high-precision scanning equipment to thoroughly inspect every inbound shipping container, significantly improving the seizure rate for smuggled goods.
2. 他在走进会议室的瞬间迅速扫描了全场，准确判断出座位格局与出席人员的相互关系。 The moment he walked into the conference room, he quickly scanned the whole room and accurately gauged the seating arrangement and how the attendees related to one another.
3. 这款移动应用支持直接扫描纸质文件并将其自动转换为可编辑的电子格式，大幅提升了办公效率。 This mobile app lets you scan paper documents directly and automatically convert them into editable digital files, greatly improving office efficiency.

Usage Guide

Context: technology, medicine, security, everyday life

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 患者在接受正式手术前需要进行一次全身扫描，以便医生全面评估病灶的位置、大小及其与周边组织的关系。(Before undergoing the formal surgery, the patient needs a full-body scan so doctors can comprehensively assess the location, size, and relationship of the lesion to surrounding tissues.)
• 进入展览现场只需用手机扫描入场二维码，系统会自动完成身份核验并生成电子入场凭证。(To enter the exhibition, simply scan the admission QR code with your phone — the system will automatically verify your identity and generate an electronic admission pass.)

Don't Say

• 他扫描了她一眼 — use 扫了她一眼 or 瞥了她一眼 for a quick glance; 扫描 implies systematic, methodical scanning, not a casual single glance

Origin & History

扫 = 扌(hand) + 帚 (broom) = to sweep across; 描 = 扌(hand) + 苗 (seedling, phonetic miáo) = to trace/delineate — together: to sweep across and capture detail

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal