zhào

omen

Original meaning: 

escape

Originally a pictograph of two people escaping a flood. Based on the original meaning "escape", now written as . The current meaning is a phonetic loan.

Evolution

兆 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
兆 Clerical script Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Clerical script

Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
兆 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

zhào

omen; million; mega; also trillion. China = million; Japan and Taiwan = trillion; to foretell; mega-; trillion; tera-; billion (old)

 

Zhào

surname Zhao

Most common words with 兆
Freq.
Word
Meaning

征兆

omen

预兆

omen

兆赫

megahertz

兆头

omen

前兆

omen

Component uses

Sound component in 14 characters (3 verified)

Iconic component in 1 character (1 verified)