King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “scan”

Romaji: kensa
inspection (e.g. customs, factory); examination; test; check

In Japanese, scan is , read (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

  1. n, vs, vt inspection (e.g. customs, factory); examination; test; check; scan (e.g. MRI, PET); audit

Kanji and stroke order

examination, investigate
on: ケン
kun: しら.べる
12 strokes · JLPT 2
investigate
on: サ
9 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “scan”

WordReadingMeaning
そうさ sousascan; scanning
スキャン sukyanscan
めをとおす meotoosuto scan; to look over
よみとる yomitoruto read (calibration, tape, etc.); to scan (bar code); to read (out)
めをはしらせる meohashiraseruto glance at; to look at; to scan

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
けんとう kentouconsideration; examination; investigation
けんしょう kenshouverification; confirmation; substantiation
けんさつ kensatsucriminal investigation; prosecution
けんじ kenjipublic prosecutor
けんてい kenteiofficial certification; official approval; inspection
ちょうさ chousainvestigation; examination; inquiry
そうさ sousasearch (esp. in criminal investigations); investigation; inquiry
しんさ shinsajudging; 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.

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