Japanese symbol for “trace”
跡
あと
Romaji: ato
trace; tracks; mark; sign
In Japanese, trace is 跡, read あと (ato).
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 trace; tracks; mark; sign
- n site; remains; ruins
- n scar
Written forms: 跡、痕、迹、址. Readings: あと.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “trace”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 痕跡 | こんせき konseki | trace; vestige; mark |
| 影 | かげ kage | trace; shadow (of one's former self) |
| 気 | け ke | sign; indication; trace |
| 跡形 | あとかた atokata | trace; vestige; evidence |
| 写す | うつす utsusu | to copy; to duplicate; to reproduce |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 足跡 | あしあと ashiato | footprints |
| 奇跡 | きせき kiseki | miracle; wonder; marvel |
| 遺跡 | いせき iseki | (archeological) remains; ruins; relics |
| 追跡 | ついせき tsuiseki | chase; pursuit; tracking |
| 軌跡 | きせき kiseki | tire track |
| 痕跡 | こんせき konseki | trace; vestige; mark |
See also: Chinese symbol for “trace”.
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.