sǎomiáo: 扫描 - To Scan

• Keywords: saomiao, 扫描, scan, scan QR code Chinese, pay with phone Chinese, Wechat pay, Alipay, how to say scan in Chinese, scan a document, barcode, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to say “to scan” in Chinese with the essential verb 扫描 (sǎomiáo). This HSK 4 word is crucial for navigating modern life in China, from scanning a QR code to pay with WeChat or Alipay, to digitizing documents at the office. This comprehensive guide breaks down the characters, explores the term's cultural significance in China's digital-first society, and provides over 10 practical example sentences to help you master this key piece of vocabulary.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): sǎo miáo
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: To scan something, either with a device or with one's eyes.
• In a Nutshell: 扫描 (sǎomiáo) is the go-to word for the action of scanning. Think of the light bar moving across a document in a machine, a cashier scanning a barcode, or your phone's camera capturing a QR code. It implies a systematic, sweeping motion to capture information. In modern China, you'll use this word dozens of times a day, especially when paying for things.

• 扫 (sǎo): To sweep. This character is made of the “hand” radical (扌) and a character for a broom (帚). Together, they create a clear picture of using a hand to sweep.
• 描 (miáo): To trace or to draw. This also uses the “hand” radical (扌), indicating an action. The right side, 苗 (miáo), means “sprout” and provides the sound. The combination suggests a delicate, precise action done by hand, like tracing a line.

When you combine 扫 (to sweep) and 描 (to trace), you get 扫描 (sǎomiáo). The word creates a vivid image of a methodical, line-by-line “sweeping and tracing” motion, perfectly describing how a scanner, or our eyes, systematically captures information.

In most Western countries, scanning is primarily an office task. In China, 扫描 (sǎomiáo) is the key to daily life. This is almost entirely due to the universal adoption of the QR code (二维码, èrwéimǎ). Unlike the West, where credit cards and tap-to-pay are dominant, China leapfrogged directly from cash to mobile payments. This has created a “scan-to-do-anything” culture. You don't just scan to pay; you scan to add friends on WeChat, to rent a shared bike, to order food at a restaurant, to follow an official account, or to get information at a museum. Therefore, knowing 扫描 (sǎomiáo) is not just about vocabulary; it's about cultural fluency. It signifies your ability to participate in the fast-paced, hyper-digital, and convenient Chinese society. While an American might “tap their card,” a Chinese person will almost always “scan the code” (扫码, sǎo mǎ). Mastering this word is a fundamental step to living or traveling independently in China.

扫描 (sǎomiáo) is used in both literal and figurative contexts, but its most common use is overwhelmingly digital.

• Digital & Mobile Payments: This is the most frequent usage. You'll constantly be asked to scan a QR code or will ask to do so yourself. The shortened version 扫码 (sǎo mǎ), literally “scan code,” is extremely common in conversation.
• Office & Technology: This is the traditional meaning, similar to English. It refers to using a flatbed scanner for documents, a barcode scanner at a supermarket, or running a virus scan on a computer.
• Figurative Usage: You can use 扫描 (sǎomiáo) to describe quickly looking over a person, a room, or a document with your eyes. It implies a quick, systematic glance to get a general impression, rather than a detailed reading.
• Medical Context: The term is used for medical scans, like a CT scan (CT扫描) or a brain scan (脑部扫描).

• Example 1:
  • 我可以用微信扫描这个二维码付款吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ kěyǐ yòng Wēixìn sǎomiáo zhège èrwéimǎ fùkuǎn ma?
  • English: Can I use WeChat to scan this QR code to pay?
  • Analysis: A crucial sentence for daily transactions. “用 [tool] 扫描” (yòng… sǎomiáo) means “to use [tool] to scan”.
• Example 2:
  • 请你帮我把这份文件扫描成PDF格式。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ bǎ zhè fèn wénjiàn sǎomiáo chéng PDF géshì.
  • English: Please help me scan this document into PDF format.
  • Analysis: This shows the classic office usage. The “把 (bǎ)” structure is used to show the disposal of the object (the document), and “成 (chéng)” indicates the result (PDF format).
• Example 3:
  • 他用眼睛迅速扫描了一下整个房间，寻找他朋友。
  • Pinyin: Tā yòng yǎnjing xùnsù sǎomiáo le yíxià zhěnggè fángjiān, xúnzhǎo tā péngyou.
  • English: He quickly scanned the entire room with his eyes, looking for his friend.
  • Analysis: This is the figurative “