omen / trillion
N1- Onyomi
- チョウ
- Kunyomi
- きざ(し)
- Stroke count
- 6
- JLPT
- N1
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 兆 down and you get 儿 (legs / person) — two legs walking out from underneath. Picture a person carrying a box held in both arms, put 兆 inside it, and let that scene stand for "omen" — omen / trillion. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 6
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- •外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- •中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- •この漢字は6画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 6 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
兆候
choukou
sign
兆し
kizashi
omen
前兆
zenchou
forewarning
兆候が大切です
choukougataisetsudesu
sign is important
兆しが大切です
kizashigataisetsudesu
omen is important
前兆が大切です
zenchougataisetsudesu
forewarning is important
Example sentences (6)
景気回復の兆候が見えます。
けいき かいふく の ちょうこう が みえます。
keiki kaifuku no choukou ga miemasu.
Signs of economic recovery are visible.
回復の兆候が見られるとはいえ、まだ油断はできません。
かいふく の ちょうこう が みられる と は いえ、まだ ゆだん は できません。
kaifuku no choukou ga mirareru to wa ie, mada yudan wa dekimasen.
Although signs of recovery can be seen, we still cannot let our guard down.
春の兆しを感じます。
はる の きざし を かんじます。
haru no kizashi o kanjimasu.
I can feel the signs of spring.
変化の兆しは、数字よりも現場の声に先に現れます。
へんか の きざし は、すうじ より も げんば の こえ に さき に あらわれます。
henka no kizashi wa, suuji yori mo genba no koe ni saki ni arawaremasu.
The first signs of change appear in what people on the ground say, before the numbers.
地震の前兆かもしれません。
じしん の ぜんちょう かも しれません。
jishin no zenchou kamo shiremasen.
It may be a sign of an earthquake.
小さな不具合が、大きな障害の前兆であることも少なくありません。
ちいさな ふぐあい が、おおきな しょうがい の ぜんちょう で ある こと も すくなく ありません。
chiisana fuguai ga, ookina shougai no zenchou de aru koto mo sukunaku arimasen.
It is far from rare for a small defect to be the forewarning of a major failure.