Chinese word

扫

Pronunciation

Pinyinsǎo

Meaning

  • verbsweep

Example

你来扫地吧。nǐ lái sǎo dì ba

Come sweep the floor.

Illustration for 扫 (sweep)

More examples

进门请用手机扫二维码。jìn mén qǐng yòng shǒu jī sǎo èr wéi mǎ

Please scan the QR code with your phone when you enter.

Core concept

Something is cleared or read by moving steadily across its surface from one side to the next.

Common phrases

  • 扫二维码sǎo èr wéi mǎ

    scan a QR code

  • 扫地板sǎo dì bǎn

    sweep the floor

Similar words

打扫dá sǎo: Clean a place by sweeping, wiping, and removing its dirt or rubbish.
清理qīng lǐ: Clear away unwanted items or clutter and put the area in order.
擦cā: Rub a surface with a cloth or other material to remove dirt or liquid.

Definition in Chinese

用扫帚或手把地面上的灰尘、垃圾等拨开或聚拢并清除的动作yòng sào zhǒu huò shóu bǎ dì miàn shàng de huī chén lā jī děng bō kāi huò jù lǒng bìng qīng chú de dòng zuò

Word origin

扫 (sǎo, "sweep") has a hand radical and a component historically associated with a broom, linking its written form to the physical act of clearing a surface.

Usage tips

  • Native English speakers often link this action too narrowly to a broom, but Chinese also uses it when a hand does the physical work.

Other meanings

  • cleanverb
  • scanverb

Opposites

  • 弄脏nòng zāngmake dirtyverb
  • 弄乱nòng luànmess upverb

Related words

Word lists with this word