Usage note
扫是用来清理地面的工具，比如扫地。
sǎo shì yòng lái qīng lǐ dì miàn de gōng jù, rú guǒ sǎo dì.
Sweep is a tool used to clean the floor, like sweeping the floor.
Context note
扫这个词常用于打扫卫生，比如扫地、扫阳台。
sǎo zhè gè cí cháng yòng yú dǎo sào shēng wéi, rú guǒ sǎo dì、sǎo tái yáng.
This word is commonly used in cleaning tasks, such as sweeping the floor and sweeping the balcony.
5 examples
妈妈在扫地。
mā ma zài sǎo dì。
Mom is sweeping the floor.
我们来扫阳台吧。
wǒ men lái sǎo yáng tái ba。
Let's sweep the balcony.
扫帚是用来扫的。
sào zhou shì yòng lái sǎo de。
The broom is used for sweeping.
每天早上都要扫地。
měi tiān zǎo shàng dōu yào sǎo dì。
We need to sweep every morning.
扫完之后，记得擦干净。
sǎo wán zhī hòu， jì de cā gān jìng。
After sweeping, remember to wipe it clean.
5 mini stories
早上起来后，妈妈会先扫阳台。然后开始做早餐。
zǎo shàng qǐ lái hòu， mā ma huì xiān sǎo yáng tái。 rán hòu kāi shǐ zuò zǎo cān。
In the morning after waking up, Mom would first sweep the balcony. Then she would start making breakfast.
周末的时候，我们全家一起扫地。
zhōu mò de shí hòu， wǒ men quán jiā yì qǐ sǎo dì。
On weekends, our whole family would clean together by sweeping the floor.
奶奶教我用扫帚扫地。
nǎi nai jiào wǒ yòng sào zhou sǎo dì。
Grandma taught me how to use a broom to sweep the floor.
爸爸说，扫地时要小心别把灰尘弄到脸上。
bà ba shuō， sǎo dì shí yào xiǎo xīn bié bǎ huī chén nòng dào liǎn shàng。
Dad said we should be careful not to get dust in our faces while sweeping.
我们家的地板很干净，因为每天都会扫。
wǒ men jiā de dì bǎn hěn gān jìng， yīn wèi měi tiān dōu huì sǎo。
Our floor is very clean because we sweep it every day.
Mini dialogue
打扫教室
A
今天谁扫教室？
Jīntiān shéi sǎo jiàoshì?
Who sweeps the classroom today?
B
我来扫，你去擦黑板吧。
Wǒ lái sǎo, nǐ qù cā hēibǎn ba.
I'll sweep, you go clean the blackboard.
在家帮忙
A
妈妈，我帮你扫地。
Māma, wǒ bāng nǐ sǎo dì.
Mom, I'll help you sweep the floor.
B
谢谢你，扫得很干净。
Xièxie nǐ, sǎo de hěn gānjìng.
Thank you, you swept it very clean.
Related words and contrasts
related
擦
cā
to wipe; to clean
Used for wiping surfaces, while 扫 is for sweeping the floor.
related
打扫
dǎsǎo
to clean up; to tidy
A general term for cleaning a room or space.