時を刻む

toki o kizamu
mark the passage of time

時を刻む鐘の音が、静寂を破った。

The tolling of the clock that marks the passage of time shattered the silence.

◆ What It Really Means
To symbolically or poetically represent the passage of time through an object, sound, or event.
Literal Meaning
to carve time
Literal Breakdown
時time+をobject marker+刻むto carve
◇ Mental Image
The mental picture of a craftsman carving marks into a surface to record time, like a clockmaker inscribing hours or a sculptor creating a timepiece.
◈ When to Use
A poet describing a clock tower whose chimes 'mark the passage of time' in a village square, or an artist depicting a sundial that 'carves time' into the earth.
◉ Cultural Note
In Japanese culture, time is often personified or given physical form in art and literature, reflecting a deep appreciation for its transient nature. Phrases like 時を刻む embody this cultural sensibility.
literary

To mark or record the passage of time, often in a poetic or reflective manner.

歴史は時を刻む者の手によって、永遠に語り継がれていく。

History is passed down through the hands of those who mark the passage of time.

この彫刻は、時を刻むように見える。

This sculpture seems to mark the passage of time.

Often used in contexts involving clocks, bells, or natural phenomena that symbolize time's progression.

Collocations

時を刻む鐘clock that marks the passage of time時を刻む彫刻sculpture that marks the passage of time

Related Phrases

時の流れphrase
the flow of time

Pro Tip

Literal vs. Figurative Meaning

While 刻む literally means 'to carve' or 'to engrave,' in this phrase it is used metaphorically to describe how time is marked or recorded. Think of it as time being 'inscribed' into an object or event.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

This phrase is almost always used in a poetic or literary context. Avoid using it in casual conversation unless you're aiming for a stylized or artistic tone.

Word Origin

The phrase combines 時 (time) and 刻む (to carve, engrave, or mark), reflecting the idea of time being inscribed or recorded, often through physical or symbolic means like a clock or bell.

Usage Notes

Primarily used in literary, poetic, or artistic contexts to evoke a sense of time's passage. Less common in everyday speech.

Word Breakdown

時
time
noun
+
を
object marker
particle
+
刻む
to carve, engrave, or mark
verb
和英辞典