trace

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is せき, and the kun reading is あと. It has 13 strokes and relates to a remaining trace or former site.
• Basic usage: 跡 is read あと, and 遺跡 is read いせき.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 跡 / 遺跡
  • 跡 means trace or site and is read あと. It refers to a remaining trace or the site where something happened.
  • 雪の上に動物の足の跡が残っていた。 means “Animal tracks remained in the snow.”
  • 遺跡 means ruins or archaeological site and is read いせき. It refers to ruins or an archaeological site left from the past.
  • 山中で古代の集落跡とみられる遺跡が見つかった。 means “Ruins believed to be an ancient settlement were found in the mountains.”