爪痕(つめあと)

つめあと
noun
scratch mark; scar; lasting impact
1. scratch mark; claw mark; nail mark
A physical mark or scratch left by fingernails, claws, or something sharp dragged across a surface.
猫(ねこ)の爪痕(つめあと)がついた。
The cat left scratch marks.
壁(かべ)に深(ふか)い爪痕(つめあと)が残(のこ)っている。
Deep scratch marks remain on the wall.
引(ひ)っかかれて腕(うで)に爪痕(つめあと)ができた。
I got scratched and ended up with nail marks on my arm.
2. scar; lasting mark; aftermath; lingering impact
Figuratively, the lasting damage or visible consequences left behind by a disaster, conflict, or significant event. Very commonly used in news and writing about the aftermath of natural disasters, wars, or other destructive events.
台風(たいふう)の爪痕(つめあと)が残(のこ)る。
The scars of the typhoon remain.
地震(じしん)の爪痕(つめあと)はまだ消(き)えていない。
The aftermath of the earthquake has not yet disappeared.
戦争(せんそう)が残(のこ)した爪痕(つめあと)は、何十年(なんじゅうねん)経(た)っても完全(かんぜん)には癒(い)えない。
The scars left by war do not fully heal even after decades.

Combines 爪(つめ) (nail, claw) and 痕(あと) (mark, trace). The literal meaning of claw marks extends naturally to a powerful metaphor for lasting damage.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 爪痕(つめあと)を残(のこ)す: to leave a mark/scar
  • 爪痕(つめあと)が残(のこ)る: scars remain
  • 大(おお)きな爪痕(つめあと): major aftermath
  • 深(ふか)い爪痕(つめあと): deep scars
  • 台風(たいふう)の爪痕(つめあと): the scars of a typhoon

USAGE:
The figurative sense (sense 2) is extremely common in news reporting. Natural disasters — typhoons, earthquakes, floods — are the most frequent context. The expression 爪痕(つめあと)を残(のこ)す is almost a set phrase in disaster reporting. It can also be used more broadly for the lasting effects of any destructive or impactful event.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 傷跡(きずあと): scar — a physical scar on the body or surface, less commonly used for figurative disaster aftermath
  • 被害(ひがい): damage — the concrete harm or losses suffered, whereas 爪痕(つめあと) emphasizes the visible traces left behind
general
Added 2026.4.18 23:25
24000/24324_tsumeato