'Kān tàn' literally combines 勘 (kān), meaning 'to survey, inspect, or investigate thoroughly', and 探 (tàn), meaning 'to explore or probe'. Together, they form a formal noun referring to systematic geological or resource exploration—especially for minerals, oil, gas, or groundwater. It implies scientific fieldwork, data collection, and technical analysis, not casual looking around.

This term is commonly used in professional, academic, and governmental contexts: energy companies conduct kān tàn before drilling; geologists perform kān tàn in remote mountainous or desert regions; and national surveys often include large-scale kān tàn projects. It carries connotations of expertise, precision, and long-term planning—and rarely appears in everyday conversation unless discussing infrastructure, natural resources, or environmental policy.