疤
bā
The English word 'scar' is translated into Chinese as 疤 (bā). Wiktionary also lists 傷疤 / 伤疤 (shāngbā) and 傷痕 / 伤痕 (shānghén).
Meaning: permanent mark on the skin (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 疤 | bā |
| 傷疤 / 伤疤 | shāngbā |
| 傷痕 / 伤痕 | shānghén |
| 疤痕 | bāhén |
| 瘢痕 | bānhén |
The word refers to a permanent mark left on the skin. When describing the biological process of a wound scabbing over or the formation of a scar, use the verb 结疤. For psychological or emotional trauma, the phrase 給……留下心理創傷 is used to mean 'to affect deeply in a traumatic manner'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 傷疤 is composed of 伤 (injury) and 疤 (scar).
Which one should you use?
疤 is a common and colloquial way to refer to a scar. 疤痕 is more formal and is frequently used in medical or descriptive contexts. While 伤痕 can refer to physical scars, it is also frequently used metaphorically to describe emotional or psychological wounds. 瘢痕 is a highly technical, medical term for a scar.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
伤痕 and 疤痕 are formal expressions.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
bā
Did you know?
- There is a fascinating possibility that the word 疤 is etymologically related to the word for 'flower', 葩. This stems from an ancient idea that a scar might look like a 'flowery' outgrowth on the skin.
- In Chinese culture, the word 伤痕 is often used in literature and history to describe the 'scars' of national or social trauma.
- The character 疤 is a phono-semantic compound, meaning it uses one part to suggest the meaning and another part to suggest the sound.
Examples in context
- 我会留疤吗？Will I have a scar?This sentence is useful for asking about the potential for a scar using 疤.Tatoeba #5094118 by mirrorvan, translation #267343 by CK
- 他額頭上的疤痕很醒目。The scar on his forehead is conspicuous.This sentence is useful for describing a conspicuous scar using 疤.Tatoeba #4506255 by egg0073, translation #285795 by CM
- 我还留着那起事故的伤疤。I'll still have a scar from that accident.This sentence is useful for mentioning a scar from a specific accident using 疤.Tatoeba #5624938 by verdastelo9604, translation #1890930 by CK
- 我有一道伤痕在手臂上。I have a scar on my arm.
- 他留下了疤痕以及许多记忆。He bears scars along with many memories.
- 你看，我手上的疤。Look, I have a scar on my hand.
- 他脸上的伤疤很明显。His facial scar is very noticeable.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a small mark on a man's arm.
- 梓涵 Zihan你手臂上那是疤嗎？Nǐ shǒubì shàng nà shì bā ma?Is that a scar on your arm?
- 浩然 Haoran對，是以前摔傷留下的疤。Duì, shì yǐqián shuāishāng liú xià de bā.Yes, it is a scar from a fall I had before.
- 梓涵 Zihan看起來不太痛了。Kàn qǐlái bù tài tòng le.It doesn't look painful anymore.
- 浩然 Haoran沒事，已經好了。Méi shì, yǐjīng hǎo le.It's fine, it has already healed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scar” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 疤, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
