刻骨铭心

Pronunciation: kè gǔ míng xīn Literal meaning: Carve bone inscribe heart

Origin & Usage

Cut (刻) into the bone (骨) and inscribed (铭) on the heart (心). 铭 is specifically the verb for casting an inscription into bronze, so both halves name permanent media, and what the phrase claims is that the impression cannot be worn away. Tang usage attaches it to gratitude — a debt too deep ever to be discharged — rather than to injury, which is worth knowing, since the English instinct is to reach for trauma. Chinese now uses it both ways, but the warm sense is the older one and is still the commoner in writing.

Examples

English: "The refugee's experiences of war left indelible memories that shaped his entire life"

Chinese: 难民的战争经历留下了难以磨灭的记忆，塑造了他的一生