noun
fingernail mark; scratch
Literal mark left by fingernails or claws on a surface or skin.
猫に引っかかれて腕に爪痕がついた。
The cat scratched me and left claw marks on my arm.
震災の爪痕はまだ街のあちこちに残っている。
Scars from the earthquake disaster still remain throughout the town.
戦争が残した深い爪痕を忘れてはいけない。
We must not forget the deep scars left by the war.
Kana spelling used when the kanji is not needed or for clarity.
Common mixed kana spelling, especially in figurative contexts.
Compound of 爪 (つめ, 'nail, claw') and 痕 (あと, 'mark, trace'). The figurative sense extends the idea of a visible mark to lasting damage or effects.