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兆候 (ちょうこう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Meanings 1
noun
sign ; indication ; symptom ; omen
Covers a wide range of observable signs: medical symptoms, economic indicators, weather signs, or omens. The specific nuance depends on context and kanji choice.
景けい 気き 回かい 復ふく の 兆ちょう 候こう が まだ 見み え ない 。
There are still no signs of economic recovery.
Written forms 兆ちょう 候こう Usage 60%
Standard kanji form, common in news and general writing.
徴ちょう 候こう Usage 40%
Alternate kanji form; 徴 suggests a sign or symptom, while 兆 leans toward omen or indication.
Kanji 兆 portent, 10**12, trillion 候 climate, season, weather Similar words 前ぜん 兆ちょう 前兆 specifically refers to a precursor or omen of something to come, often with a negative or ominous nuance, while 兆候 is a broader term for any sign or indication.
症しょう 状じょう 症状 is specifically a medical symptom, whereas 兆候 can be used in medical contexts but also for non-medical signs.
Etymology Sino-Japanese compound of 兆 (omen, sign) or 徴 (indication, symptom) and 候 (climate, season, sign). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spellings are conventionally associated with the meaning 'sign, indication'.
