瑞兆 (ruì zhào) is a classical Chinese compound noun meaning 'auspicious sign' or 'portent of good fortune.' The first character, 瑞 (ruì), means 'auspicious,' 'lucky,' or 'propitious,' and historically appears in words like 瑞雪 (ruì xuě, 'auspicious snow') and 瑞气 (ruì qì, 'auspicious aura'). The second character, 兆 (zhào), means 'omen,' 'portent,' or 'sign,' often used in divination or traditional forecasting contexts. Together, 瑞兆 emphasizes a positive, foretelling symbol — not just any sign, but one that reliably heralds prosperity, peace, or success.

This term carries literary and ceremonial weight; it’s common in formal writing, poetry, New Year celebrations, wedding speeches, and traditional festivals. While modern spoken Mandarin often uses simpler terms like 好兆头 (hǎo zhàotou), 瑞兆 remains favored in written registers to convey elegance and cultural resonance. It frequently appears alongside natural imagery — cranes, phoenixes, plum blossoms, or double happiness motifs — reinforcing its association with harmony and auspiciousness.