Definitions
(noun)
omen; sign
(verb)
to foretell; to predict
(numeral)
trillion; mega-; tera-
Etymology
Originally a pictograph of two people escaping a flood. Based on the original meaning "escape", now written as 逃. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
About
兆 originated as a pictograph depicting the crack patterns formed on heated turtle shells or animal bones in ancient divination. Since these cracks were interpreted to foretell events, its core meaning became an omen or portent. As numerical systems evolved, 兆 was adopted to denote extremely large quantities, variously representing a million, trillion, or billion across different periods and regions, and now serves as the prefix for "mega" in modern scientific contexts.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这是一个好兆头。
电脑有一兆内存。
兆亿人民庆祝国庆。
地震前常有征兆。
这款手机的网速达到百兆。
经济显示兆级增长趋势。
兆伏高压电需谨慎处理。
数据分析预兆市场将繁荣。