Japanese symbol for “scan”
検査
けんさ
Romaji: kensa
inspection (e.g. customs, factory); examination; test; check
In Japanese, scan is 検査, read けんさ (kensa).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n, vs, vt inspection (e.g. customs, factory); examination; test; check; scan (e.g. MRI, PET); audit
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “scan”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 走査 | そうさ sousa | scan; scanning |
| スキャン | スキャン sukyan | scan |
| 目を通す | めをとおす meotoosu | to scan; to look over |
| 読み取る | よみとる yomitoru | to read (calibration, tape, etc.); to scan (bar code); to read (out) |
| 目を走らせる | めをはしらせる meohashiraseru | to glance at; to look at; to scan |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 検討 | けんとう kentou | consideration; examination; investigation |
| 検証 | けんしょう kenshou | verification; confirmation; substantiation |
| 検察 | けんさつ kensatsu | criminal investigation; prosecution |
| 検事 | けんじ kenji | public prosecutor |
| 検定 | けんてい kentei | official certification; official approval; inspection |
| 調査 | ちょうさ chousa | investigation; examination; inquiry |
| 捜査 | そうさ sousa | search (esp. in criminal investigations); investigation; inquiry |
| 審査 | しんさ shinsa | judging; inspection; examination |
See also: Chinese symbol for “scan”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.