扫码 (sǎo mǎ) — to scan a QR code or barcode | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

扫码 means 'to scan a code' (QR or barcode) with your phone. It's a verb-object phrase — the general scan verb 扫描 is used for documents/images, not phone codes.

verb

to scan a QR code or barcode

Examples

扫码。
Jìn tú shū guǎn xū yào sǎo mǎ.
You need to scan a code to enter the library.
。
Nǐ sǎo yí xià mǎ jiù néng jìn qù.
Just scan the code and you can go in.
。
Tā sǎo wán mǎ jiù jìn diàn le.
He scanned the code and then entered the store.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

The 扫 scanning applied to a 码 reads a QR or barcode.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 掃; 扫 is its simplified writing.

The form 掃 draws a hand with a broomstick, the thing used for sweeping.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 碼; 码 is its simplified writing.

石馬碼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

石石shístone; rock

Sound part声符shēngfú

馬

馬mǎ碼mǎ

Same sound today

The traditional form 碼 pairs 石 (stone) with 馬 for its sound; the simplified 码 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 4 Computers & Internet 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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