跡・迹・痕・址|あとato[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nountrace; tracks; mark; sign
   その女性じょせいの顔かおには悲かなしみの跡あとがあった。↗

   The woman's face was marked with grief.

   虫むしに刺さされた跡あとを引ひっかかないようにした方ほうがいいよ。↗

   You should try not to scratch insect bites.
2. nounsite; remains; ruins
   ここは城しろの跡あとです。↗

   This is the site of a castle.
3. nounscaresp. 痕

• Synonym痕跡こんせきWrittenWritten/formal prose for traces left by something in the past, often as evidence in an investigation, as in 「犯行の痕跡」.
• Synonym形跡けいせきNeutralSigns that something was done or that someone was present, mostly used when inferring, as in 「侵入した形跡がある」.
• Synonym跡形あとかたNeutralMostly used in the phrase 「跡形もない」, meaning not a single trace of something remains.
• Synonym残痕ざんこんWrittenA rare written/formal word for a remaining trace; in everyday speech use 「跡」 or 「傷跡」.
• Synonym痕こんWrittenMostly a suffix, as in 「血痕」 and 「弾痕」, for marks or scars left behind; written/formal in tone.
• Related傷跡きずあとNeutralA scar; also used figuratively for the wounds left by disaster or war, as in 「戦争の傷跡」.
• Related軌跡きせきNeutralThe track or course a person or thing has followed, stressing the route taken, as in 「人生の軌跡」.
• Related爪痕つめあとNeutralLiterally a fingernail mark or scratch, but mostly figurative for the destruction a disaster leaves, as in 「台風の爪痕」.
• Related証跡しょうせきWrittenWritten/formal prose for evidence that something happened; in everyday speech say 「証拠」.

「跡」 covers traces, marks, sites and scars. For traces treated as evidence in an investigation use 「痕跡」 or 「形跡」; when nothing at all remains, say 「跡形もない」. Use 「傷跡」 for scars and 「爪痕」 for the ravages of a disaster, and 「軌跡」 for the course of a life or career. 「痕」, 「残痕」 and 「証跡」 are written or rare — in daily speech prefer 「跡」, 「傷跡」 and 「証拠」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 何なんかが存在そんざいしたことを示しめす、目めに見みえる印しるしや形かたち。
2. 昔むかしあった建物たてものや都市としなどが失うしなわれた場所ばしょ。
3. けがや病気びょうきの後あとに残のこる、肌はだの傷きずや線せん。