An ultrasonic imaging system is described by using a leaky surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducer composed of a piezoelectric ceramic thin plate/interdigital transducer/fused quartz. It is shown, both numerically and experimentally, that three operation modes of the transducer at a water‐solid interface are available. Each of the three modes has a different operation frequency range, corresponding to the leaky SAW velocity. The bulk wave in water as an acoustical coupler between the transducer and a tested object has a frequency‐dependent angle relation; therefore, the acoustic beam steering is easily controlled and flexible in design. The reflection type ofC‐mode ultrasonic imaging results are demonstrated and are promising for nondestructive testing.