Readings: セキ (Onyomi), あと (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Trace, track, mark, vestige, footprint, precedent
The character is a combination of 彳 (a variant of 蟑 representing a “walking person” or “foot”) and 斤 (which here represents “axe” or “chop”; it was also used phonetically). The original meaning was related to “chopping down trees” and leaving marks, or the marks left by footsteps after walking.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 跡 is written with 6 strokes. It starts with the radical 彳 (which represents walking or foot), followed by the character 斤. The order is typically left-to-right, top-to-bottom.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 止 (stop) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | 8 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- セキ (SEKI)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- あと (ato)
Common Words Using 跡
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 遺跡 | イセキ | ruins, remains, relics |
| 足跡 | ソクセキ | footprint, track |
| 旧跡 | キュウセキ | historic site, ruins, relics |
| 手本 | テホン | model, example (often uses the reading shuu for a related kanji but `tesaki` can be read as `te hon` or `shuu`) |
| 跡継 | アトツギ | heir, successor |
| 名跡 | ミョウセキ | famous historical site, famous family name |
| 形跡 | ケイセキ | traces, signs, vestige |
| 史跡 | undefined | historical spot, site of historic interest |
| 跡地 | undefined | site of a former building, former location |
| 後継者 | コウケイシャ | successor, heir (often uses the kanji 継) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 跡 | あと | trace, track, mark, vestige, footprint, precedent |
| 跡を辿る | あとをたどる | to follow a trace, to trace someone’s steps |
| 面影 | おもかげ | remains, trace, memory, lingering image |
| 跡付ける | あとづける | to trace, to track down |
| 傷跡 | undefined | scar, cicatrix |
| 爪痕 | つめあと | scratch mark, claw mark |
| 後 | あと | after, behind, remainder |
| 人跡 | じんせき | human trace, sign of human activity |
| 筆跡 | ひっせき | handwriting, penmanship |
| 足跡 | あしあと | footprint, footstep |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この村には古い遺跡がたくさん残っている。
Kana: このむらにはふるい いせきがたく さん のこっている。
Romaji: Kono mura ni wa furui iseki ga takusan nokotte iru.
English: There are many ancient ruins remaining in this village.
Japanese: 犯人の足跡が現場に残されていた。
Kana: はんじんの あしあと がげんばに のこされていた。
Romaji: Hanjin no ashiato ga genba ni nokosarete ita.
English: The criminal’s footprints were left at the scene.
Japanese: 彼は歴史的な旧跡を訪ねるのが好きだ。
Kana: かれは れきしてきな きゅうせきを たずねるのがすきだ。
Romaji: Kare wa rekishiteki na kyūseki o tazuneru no ga suki da.
English: He likes visiting historical sites.
Japanese: その事件の形跡はすでに消え去っていた。
Kana: そのじけんの けいせきはすでにきえさっていた。
Romaji: Sono jiken no keiseki wa sudeni kiesatte ita.
English: The traces of the incident had already disappeared.
Japanese: 彼女は偉大な音楽家の跡を継いだ。
Kana: かのじょはいだいな おんがくかの あとをついだ。
Romaji: Kanojo wa idaina ongakuka no ato o tsugida.
English: She succeeded the great musician.
Japanese: その古い家は史跡に指定されている。
Kana: そのふるいいえは しせきにしていされている。
Romaji: Sono furui ie wa shiseki ni shitei sarete iru.
English: That old house is designated as a historical site.
Japanese: 彼は父の跡を継いで医者になった。
Kana: かれは ちちのあとをついでいしゃになった。
Romaji: Kare wa chichi no ato o tsuide isha ni natta.
English: He followed in his father’s footsteps and became a doctor.
Japanese: この土地はかつて建物があった跡地だ。
Kana: このとちはかつてたてものがあった あとちだ。
Romaji: Kono tochi wa katsute tatemono ga atta atochi da.
English: This land is the site of a former building.
Japanese: その神社の境内には多くの古い石碑が残っている。
Kana: そのじんじゃのけいだいにはおおくのふるいせきひがのこっている。
Romaji: Sono jinja no keidai ni wa ooku no furui sekihi ga nokotte iru.
English: Many old stone monuments remain within the shrine grounds.
Japanese: 彼はその足跡を辿って犯人を追跡した。
Kana: かれはそのあしあとをたどってはんにんをついせきした。
Romaji: Kare wa sono ashiato o tadotte hannin o tsuiseki shita.
English: He followed the footprints and tracked down the culprit.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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