1.
sign; indication; first signs of something beginning
Early, often subtle indications that something is starting or about to happen.
兆し is a noun from the verb 兆す (to show signs of, to begin to appear). It names the first faint indication that a change is under way.
Common expressions
- 兆しが見える / ある (signs are visible, signs are present)
- 兆しを見せる (to show signs of)
- Xの兆し (signs of X)
- 春の兆し (signs of spring)
- 回復の兆し (signs of recovery)
Usage
兆し describes subtle, gradual indicators — seasons turning, an economy picking up, an illness easing. The connotation is neutral to positive, and the change it points to is usually welcome or at least undramatic.