Definitions

sǎo (verb) to sweep
sào (noun) broom

Etymology

Simplified form of . Depicts using a hand () sweeping with a broom ().

About

The character 扫, with its traditional form 掃, is an ideogrammatic compound pairing the hand radical 扌 (shǒu) on the left with the component 帚 (zhǒu) on the right, a pictograph of a broom made from bound twigs. The simplified version replaces the detailed broom with the graphic element 彐. Together, a hand wielding a broom directly illustrates the physical act of sweeping, clearing dirt, or cleaning a surface. Beyond household cleaning, its meaning expanded figuratively to include sweeping away enemies, obstacles, or unwanted elements in military, social, or abstract contexts.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我帮妈妈地。

Wǒ bāng māma sǎo dì.

I help mom sweep the floor.

我们一起打房间。

Wǒmen yīqǐ dǎsǎo fángjiān.

We clean the room together.

描了文件。

Tā sǎomiáo le wénjiàn.

He scanned the document.

我们周末大除。

Wǒmen zhōumò dàsǎochú.

We have a big cleanup on the weekend.

大家的兴。

Bié sǎo dàjiā de xìng.

Don't spoil everyone's fun.

士兵在雷。

Shìbīng zài sǎoléi.

The soldiers are sweeping mines.

他用新地。

Tā yòng xīn sàozhou sǎo dì.

He sweeps the floor with a new broom.

描二维码可以获取信息。

Sǎomiáo èrwéimǎ kěyǐ huòqǔ xìnxī.

Scanning the QR code can obtain information.