omen; portent; to foretell
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
omen; portent; forewarning
formalOften refers to a natural or seemingly supernatural sign that indicates a future event, especially a significant or fateful one. Can be positive or negative.
Tiān天
kōng空
chū出
xiàn现
de的
qí奇
yì异
guāng光
máng芒
bèi被
shì视
wéi为
zhàn战
zhēng争
de的
yù预
zhào兆
。
The strange lights in the sky were seen as an omen of war.
Tā他
jué觉
de得
xīn心
lǐ里
bù不
ān安
，
zhè这
shì是
yī一
zhǒng种
bù不
xiáng祥
de的
yù预
zhào兆
。
He felt uneasy; it was an ominous portent.
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Zhè这
xiē些
fǎn反
cháng常
de的
zì自
rán然
xiàn现
xiàng象
shì是
dì地
zhèn震
de的
yù预
zhào兆
ma吗
？
Are these abnormal natural phenomena a forewarning of an earthquake?
verb
to foretell; to presage; to portend; to bode
formalIndicates that a sign or phenomenon predicts a future outcome. The subject is usually the sign itself.
Mín民
jiān间
chuán传
shuō说
，
xǐ喜
què鹊
jiào叫
yù预
zhào兆
zhe着
xǐ喜
shì事
lái来
lín临
。
Folklore says that the call of a magpie foretells the arrival of a happy event.
Zhè这
chǎng场
jiǔ久
hàn旱
hòu后
de的
gān甘
lín霖
yù预
zhào兆
zhe着
fēng丰
shōu收
de的
xī希
wàng望
。
This timely rain after a long drought presages hope for a good harvest.
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Gǔ古
shū书
zhōng中
jì记
zǎi载
，
yì异
xīng星
chū出
xiàn现
wǎng往
wǎng往
yù预
zhào兆
zhe着
tiān天
xià下
de的
biàn变
dòng动
。
Ancient texts record that the appearance of a strange star often portended changes in the realm.