1.
trace; vestige; remains
A remaining sign or evidence that something once existed. Most commonly used in the negative pattern 跡形もない (not a trace remains).
跡形もなく消えた。
It vanished without a trace.
建物は跡形もなく壊された。
The building was demolished without a trace.
火事のあと、家は跡形もなくなっていた。
After the fire, there was nothing left of the house.
Almost exclusively appears in the set phrase 跡形もない or 跡形もなく, meaning "without a trace" or "not a vestige remaining." Rarely used in affirmative contexts. The word emphasizes total disappearance or destruction.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 跡形もない: without a trace; completely gone
- 跡形もなく消える: to vanish without a trace
- 跡形もなく壊す: to destroy without a trace
- 跡形もなくなる: to be completely gone
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 痕跡: trace; evidence — a more formal, scientific term that can be used affirmatively
- 形跡: sign; indication — used for evidence that something occurred, often in investigations
- 名残: remnant; vestige — carries a nuance of lingering emotion or nostalgia