傷跡（きずあと、kizuato）
- scar

The Japanese word 傷跡 (きずあと) means "scar," "cicatrix," or "mark of injury." It refers to the permanent mark left on the skin or other tissues after a wound has healed. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a lingering effect or trauma from a past experience. The word encompasses both physical and emotional scars, though physical scars are the more common and direct application.

⚫︎手術の傷跡がまだ痛む。 Translation: The scar from the surgery still hurts. ⚫︎過去の失敗は、心の傷跡となった。 Translation: The past failure became a scar on my heart. ⚫︎彼女の顔には、事故の傷跡が残っていた。 Translation: There was a scar from the accident on her face.

This word is used to describe scars. You can use it in conversations about injuries, surgeries, accidents, or even emotional experiences that have left a lasting impact. You would use it when talking about visible or metaphorical marks. The word is generally used in formal and informal situations alike. When talking about a physical scar, you can use phrases like ～に傷跡がある (kizuato ga aru – to have a scar on ~) or ～に傷跡が残っている (kizuato ga nokotteiru – to have a scar left on ~).

⚫︎The word is typically written in kanji as 傷跡. ⚫︎The reading is きずあと (kizuato) in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no other common ways to write this word. ⚫︎The okurigana (送りがな - suffix hiragana) is usually "跡" (ato), indicating the noun. ⚫︎Variations in okurigana are not common.

There are no perfect synonyms, but related words include: ⚫︎瘢痕 (はんこん - hankon): This is a more formal and medical term for scar. ⚫︎古傷 (ふるきず - furukizu): This means "old scar."

There are no direct antonyms for 傷跡, as the concept is of a permanent mark. However, words related to healing or removal of scars could be considered related opposites, such as: ⚫︎治癒 (ちゆ - chiyu): healing, recovery ⚫︎回復 (かいふく - kaifuku): recovery

彼は子どもの頃、転んで膝に大きな傷跡ができた。 ・Translation: When he was a child, he fell and got a big scar on his knee. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a physical scar resulting from a childhood accident.

その出来事は、彼女の心に深い傷跡を残した。 ・Translation: That event left a deep scar on her heart. ・Explanation: This example uses 傷跡 metaphorically to represent emotional trauma.

傷跡 is a compound word. 傷 (kizu) means "wound," "injury," or "defect." 跡 (ato) means "trace," "remains," or "mark." Thus, 傷跡 literally means "the trace of a wound" or "the mark of an injury."