痕迹 hénjì vestige
vestige; mark; trace
How to remember 痕迹: 痕 scar + 迹 trace = vestige.
Characters
How it is used
- A trace/mark left behind - 岁月的痕迹 (suìyuè de hénjì) the marks of time, 没留下痕迹 (méi liúxià hénjì) left no trace.
- The physical or figurative residue that shows something happened; contrast 迹象 (jìxiàng, a sign/indication of what's coming).
- Slightly literary; common in writing and crime/investigation contexts.
Example sentences
- 他没有留下痕迹就消失了。 Tā méiyǒu liúxià hénjì jiù xiāoshī le.He disappeared without a trace.