scar / stigma
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scar
A visible mark on the skin that remains after a wound, injury, or operation has healed.
Vom Fahrradunfall in seiner Kindheit hat er noch eine kleine Narbe am Knie.
He still has a small scar on his knee from a bicycle accident in his childhood.
scar
In a figurative sense, a lasting, painful memory of a negative experience.
Der frühe Tod seiner Eltern hat tiefe seelische Narben bei ihm hinterlassen.
The early death of his parents left deep emotional scars on him.
stigma
In botany, the uppermost part of a flower's pistil, which serves to receive pollen during pollination.
Wenn der Pollen auf die klebrige Narbe der Blüte gelangt, beginnt die Befruchtung.
When the pollen reaches the sticky stigma of the flower, fertilization begins.
The meaning of 'Narbe' becomes clear from context. If it is about the body, it means a skin scar. Adjectives such as 'seelisch' (psychological/emotional) or 'emotional' point to the figurative meaning. The botanical technical term appears only in the context of plants and biology.
Er hat eine kleine Narbe über dem Auge.
He has a small scar above his eye.
In connection with skin injuries, 'Narbe' is often used with the verbs 'hinterlassen' (to leave behind) or 'zurückbleiben' (to remain). Typical adjectives are 'sichtbar' (visible), 'tief' (deep), or 'klein' (small).
Die Operation hat eine kaum sichtbare Narbe hinterlassen.
The operation left a barely visible scar.
To indicate the cause of a scar, the preposition 'von' (+ dative) is often used.
Das ist eine alte Narbe von einem Sturz mit dem Fahrrad.
That's an old scar from a fall on a bicycle.
In the figurative meaning, 'Narbe' is almost always accompanied by an adjective that emphasizes the emotional or psychological character. Typical phrases are 'seelische Narben' (emotional/psychological scars) or 'emotionale Narben' (emotional scars).
Die Trennung hat bei ihr tiefe emotionale Narben hinterlassen.
The breakup left deep emotional scars on her.
The botanical meaning of 'Narbe' is a technical term. You find it almost exclusively in biological or gardening texts about plants and flowers.
Für die Bestäubung muss der Pollen auf die Narbe der Blüte gelangen.
For pollination, the pollen must reach the stigma of the flower.
wound
A wound can also be emotional and emphasize the current pain caused by a negative experience. A scar, by contrast, refers more to the lasting memory or consequence left behind after such an injury. Use “Wunde” for suffering that is still painful and “Narbe” for the permanent mark.
Die Trennung ist lange vorbei, aber als seelische Narbe erinnert sie sich noch oft daran.
The breakup is long over, but it remains an emotional scar, and she still often thinks about it.
Die harten Worte haben bei ihr eine tiefe seelische Wunde hinterlassen.
The harsh words left her with a deep emotional wound.
