Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

遺跡 (いせき) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

遺い跡せき

い

せ

き

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

ruins; archaeological remains; relics

Refers to physical remains of past human activity, such as ancient structures, settlements, or artifacts. Used in historical and archaeological contexts.

この地ち域いきには古こ代だいローマの遺

い

跡せき

が

たくさん

ある

。

There are many ancient Roman ruins in this area.

遺い跡せきから貴き重ちょうな土ど器きが発はっ掘くつされた。

Valuable pottery was excavated from the archaeological site.

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉で遺い跡せきが発はっ見けんされるfor ruins to be discovered at a place
この地ち域いきで古こ代だいの遺い跡せきが発はっ見けんされた。
Ancient ruins were discovered in this area.
遺い跡せきを発はっ掘くつするto excavate ruins
考こう古こ学がく者しゃたちがその遺い跡せきを発はっ掘くつしている。
Archaeologists are excavating the ruins.
遺い跡せきを保ほ存ぞんするto preserve ruins
政せい府ふはこの遺い跡せきを保ほ存ぞんするために資し金きんを出だした。
The government provided funds to preserve the ruins.
遺い跡せきを訪おとずれるto visit ruins
旅りょ行こう者しゃたちは古こ代だいの遺い跡せきを訪おとずれた。
The travelers visited the ancient ruins.

Kanji

遺bequeath, leave behind, reserve
跡tracks, mark, print
蹟remains, traces, footprint

Related words

史し跡せき
史跡 is a legally designated historic site, while 遺跡 is the general term for any archaeological remains, protected or not.
遺い構こう
遺跡 refers broadly to an archaeological site or ancient ruins including the surrounding area, while 遺構 denotes the actual structural remnants (foundations, walls, etc.) found there.
住じゅう居きょ跡あとN1
遺跡 is the broad term for any archaeological ruin or site, while 住居跡 narrows this to the remains of a specific dwelling or settlement.
跡あとN3
遺跡 specifically means archaeological ruins or historical remains, while 跡 is the broader word for any former site, ancient or not.
廃はい墟きょ
遺跡 denotes historic or archaeological remains valued for their cultural heritage, whereas 廃墟 simply means physical ruins, often modern and abandoned.

Don't confuse with

廃はい墟きょ
廃墟 describes abandoned, decaying buildings often from recent history, whereas 遺跡 refers to archaeological remains studied for their historical value.

Word family

戦せん争そう遺い跡せき
war heritage site; war ruins

Written forms

遺い跡せきUsage99%
Standard kanji form; high priority.
遺い蹟せきUsage1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 蹟 is a variant of 跡.
イセキUsage<1%

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 遺跡 (yí jì), meaning 'remains' or 'traces of the past'. The kanji 遺 means 'leave behind' and 跡 means 'trace' or 'mark'.