‘一览’ literally combines ‘一’ (yī, meaning 'one') and ‘览’ (lǎn, meaning 'to view' or 'to survey'), suggesting the idea of seeing or grasping something fully in a single glance. As a noun, it refers to an overview or summary—often used for concise presentations of information, such as maps, charts, or lists. As an adverb, it means 'at a glance' or 'in one look', emphasizing immediacy and comprehensiveness.

This term is common in formal or semi-formal contexts: travel brochures may offer a '景点一览' (overview of scenic spots), city guides use '交通一览' (transportation overview), and reports often include a '项目一览表' (project summary table). While it conveys efficiency and clarity, it does not imply deep analysis—just a broad, initial understanding. It’s frequently paired with measure words like ‘张’ (a sheet) or ‘表’ (a table), or used after verbs like ‘提供’ (provide) or ‘展示’ (display).