How to say "scan" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe everyday word for scanning, covering both scanning a document or image into digital form and a body scan in ordinary talk. A loanword used widely in daily and office contexts.
- 走査そうさnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe technical term for scanning as a process, as in the line-by-line sweep of a beam or sensor across a surface. It names the mechanism itself, not the casual act of scanning something.
- 目を通すめをとおすexpression, godan verbMeans to scan or look over a text, that is, to read through something quickly to get the gist rather than carefully. Use it for skimming documents, emails, or reports, not for machines.
- 検査けんさnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers a scan in the sense of a medical examination, such as an MRI or PET scan, where the scan is a kind of inspection or test. It is really 'examination' or 'check', so it is not the word for scanning a document.
Use 「スキャン」 for scanning documents or images, 走査 for the technical scanning process, 「目を通す」 for skimming text, and 検査 for a medical scan as an examination.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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