跡(あと)

あと
noun
trace, mark, remains
1. trace, mark
A visible sign left by something.
足跡(あしあと)が残(のこ)っている。
Footprints remain.
傷(きず)の跡(あと)がある。
There's a scar.
雪(ゆき)の上(うえ)に動物(どうぶつ)の足跡(あしあと)が残(のこ)っていた。
Animal footprints remained in the snow.
2. remains, ruins
What is left after something is gone.
城(しろ)の跡(あと)を訪(たず)ねた。
I visited the castle ruins.
火事(かじ)の跡(あと)に花(はな)が咲(さ)いていた。
Flowers were blooming on the remains of the fire.
この遺跡(いせき)は古(ふる)い文明(ぶんめい)の跡(あと)だ。
These ruins are the remains of an ancient civilization.

跡(あと) means a trace, mark, or remains left by something.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 足跡(あしあと): footprint
  • 傷跡(きずあと): scar
  • 痕跡(こんせき): trace, evidence
  • 遺跡(いせき): ruins, archaeological site
  • 跡継(あとつ)ぎ: successor, heir
  • 跡形(あとかた)もない: without a trace

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 跡(あと)を残(のこ)す: to leave a trace
  • 跡(あと)を追(お)う: to follow in someone's footsteps
  • 跡(あと)が残(のこ)る: a mark remains

DON'T CONFUSE:

  • 跡(あと): trace, mark (physical remnant)
  • 後(あと): after, behind, later (time/position)

These are different words despite same reading.

general
Added 2026.1.9 21:08 · Revised 2026.2.22 9:12
02000/02174_ato