Japanese symbol for “scars”
爪痕
つめあと
Romaji: tsumeato
fingernail mark; scratch
In Japanese, scars is 爪痕, read つめあと (tsumeato).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- n fingernail mark; scratch
- n scars (e.g. of war); traces (of damage); ravages; after-effects
Written forms: 爪痕、爪あと、爪跡、つめ跡. Readings: つめあと.
Kanji and stroke order
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 爪楊枝 | つまようじ tsumayouji | toothpick |
| 鉤爪 | かぎづめ kagizume | claw; talon |
| 深爪 | ふかづめ fukazume | cutting a fingernail (or toenail) to the quick; cutting a nail too close |
| 爪先立ち | つまさきだち tsumasakidachi | standing on tiptoes |
| 痕跡 | こんせき konseki | trace; vestige; mark |
| 血痕 | けっこん kekkon | bloodstain |
| 弾痕 | だんこん dankon | bullet hole; bullet mark |
| 瘢痕 | はんこん hankon | scar; cicatrix |
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.