预兆 yùzhào omen
omen; sign (of something yet to occur); prior indication; to foreshadow
How to remember 预兆: 预 in advance + 兆 omen = omen.
Characters
How it is used
- An omen / sign of what's to come - 不祥的预兆 (bùxiáng de yùzhào) an ill omen.
- Formal noun (and verb 'to foreshadow'); the sign precedes and hints at a future event, good or bad.
- Contrast 征兆 (zhēngzhào, a symptom/indication, often clinical) - 预兆 leans toward portent/foreshadowing.
Example sentences
- 他的懒惰是他未来不好的预兆。 Tā de lǎnduò shì tā wèilái bùhǎo de yùzhào.His laziness is a bad sign for the future.