evil omen; ill omen; bad sign
A sign or event believed to foretell misfortune or disaster. Often used in literary, historical, or superstitious contexts.
A black cat crossing your path is said to be an evil omen.
He took that dream as an ill omen.
祥 refers to an auspicious, good omen, while 凶兆 refers to an ominous, bad sign.
吉兆 is a sign that foretells good fortune, while 凶兆 is a sign that foretells disaster or misfortune.
Compound of 凶 (evil, bad fortune) and 兆 (omen, sign).