‘征兆’ (zhēng zhào) is a compound noun meaning 'symptom' or 'sign'—especially an early, often subtle indicator of something significant that is about to happen, such as illness, change, or danger. The first character 征 (zhēng) originally meant 'to go on a military campaign' but in this context carries the sense of 'evidence' or 'manifestation'; 兆 (zhào) means 'omen', 'portent', or 'premonition'. Together, they emphasize observable clues that point to an underlying condition or future development.

This word is commonly used in formal, medical, or literary contexts—not in casual daily speech. It often appears in health discussions (e.g., early warning signs of disease), weather forecasts (signs of a storm), or social commentary (signs of economic trouble). Unlike more neutral words like ‘迹象’ (jì xiàng), ‘征兆’ frequently implies seriousness, urgency, or inevitability—and may carry a slightly ominous tone.