跡(あと)

あと

noun

trace, mark, remains

See also: 後(あと) (after, later)

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 2026.5.19 3:13

02000/02174_ato