1.
bloodstain; trace of blood
A mark or stain left by blood, typically on clothing, a floor, or another surface. Especially common in crime, forensic, and medical contexts.
床に血痕があった。
There was a bloodstain on the floor.
警察は現場で血痕を採取した。
The police collected bloodstains at the scene.
犯人が残した血痕からDNAが検出された。
DNA was detected from the bloodstain left by the perpetrator.
Compound of 血 (blood) + 痕 (mark, trace). The kanji 痕 implies a residual trace, distinguishing this from fresh blood.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 血痕が残る: a bloodstain remains
- 血痕を採取する: to collect a blood sample (forensic)
- 血痕を調べる: to examine bloodstains
- 床の血痕: bloodstain on the floor
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 血: blood — the substance itself, not a dried mark
- 血のしみ: blood stain — more colloquial; しみ is general for stain
HOMOPHONE WARNING:
Identical in sound to 結婚 (marriage). Context disambiguates; in writing, the kanji make the meaning clear.