跡 points to something left behind: a footprint, a mark or a site. Learn its readings in complete words.

The idea

跡 has 13 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. Its reading is あと in 跡 and 足跡（あしあと）, but せき in 遺跡（いせき） and 奇跡（きせき）. Learn each word with its meaning.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample in context
足跡あしあとFootprints remain in the snow.
傷跡きずあとThere is an old scar on the wall.
跡あとI photographed the traces of the fire.
遺跡いせきWe visited ancient ruins.
奇跡きせきIt was an event like a miracle.

Examples

  • 雪ゆきに足跡あしあとが残のこっています。Footprints remain in the snow.
  • 壁かべに古ふるい傷跡きずあとがあります。There is an old scar on the wall.
  • 火事かじの跡あとを写真しゃしんに撮とりました。I photographed the traces of the fire.
  • 私わたしたちは古ふるい遺跡いせきを訪たずねました。We visited ancient ruins.
  • 警察けいさつは車くるまの跡あとを調しらべています。The police are examining the car’s tracks.
  • それは奇跡きせきのような出来事できごとでした。It was an event like a miracle.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

跡（あと） is a trace, while 後（あと） often means after or behind. The sound alone does not tell you which spelling fits. 奇跡 means miracle, not an ordinary physical track.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 足跡 in hiragana.

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    あしあと

    足跡 is あしあと: 足 means foot and the word means footprint.

  2. Write the reading of 遺跡 in hiragana.

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    いせき

    遺跡 is いせき: it refers to remains or an archaeological site.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 奇＿（きせき）［跡／足］.

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    跡

    跡 completes 奇跡（きせき）, a miracle; 足 would not spell this word.

Use it today

Write 跡 using the diagram, then cover the table and read 足跡 and 遺跡. Make a sentence about a trace you have seen.