Translation guide
To remember something deeply and permanently, often with emotional significance. In Japanese, this is expressed through idiomatic phrases involving the heart, mind, or body, rather than a direct translation of 'engrave'.
Expressing that a lesson, memory, or feeling is firmly and permanently remembered, often with emotional weight.
Literally 'to carve into the heart'. This is the most direct and common equivalent, used for both positive and negative memories.
先生の言葉を心に刻んだ。
I engraved my teacher's words in my heart.
その光景は今も心に刻まれている。
That scene is still engraved in my heart.
Similar to 心に刻む, but uses 'chest' (胸) to emphasize the emotional, heartfelt aspect. Slightly more literary or poetic.
彼の最後の言葉を胸に刻んで生きていく。
I will live with his last words engraved in my heart.
Literally 'to inscribe on one's liver'. A strong, often formal expression used for taking a lesson or warning to heart, especially after a mistake.
今回の失敗を肝に銘じて、次は気をつけます。
I will take this failure to heart and be careful next time.
A more general way to say 'to not forget', but can be used in contexts where 'engrave in one's heart' is meant, especially when emphasizing continuous remembrance.
彼女の優しさをいつまでも忘れずにいる。
I will always keep her kindness in my heart.
心に刻む is used for both positive and negative memories, while 肝に銘じる is almost exclusively used for learning from mistakes or warnings. 肝に銘じる carries a stronger sense of resolve and is more formal.
美しい景色を心に刻んだ。
I engraved the beautiful scenery in my heart.
遅刻の反省を肝に銘じる。
I take the lesson of being late to heart.
Do not translate 'engrave' literally as 彫る (horu) in this context. 心に彫る is not idiomatic and sounds unnatural. Use 刻む (kizamu) instead.
Means 'to keep in mind' or 'to bear in mind'. Less intense than 刻む, but still implies a conscious effort to remember something important.
この教訓を心に留めておきなさい。
Keep this lesson in your heart.