兆 means “trillion, omen”

ちょう · chou

Also: portent, 10**12, sign

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): きざす, きざし
On'yomi (Chinese reading): チョウ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 4 · 6 strokes

The story

Picture cracks spreading across a heated tortoise shell: in ancient China 兆 named those cracks, which diviners read as omens. 兆し is a sign of what's coming, and 兆 is also a trillion: Japan's yearly budget runs past 100兆円.

Used in 一兆 (itchou, one trillion), 兆し (kizashi, sign/hint), and 前兆 (zenchou, omen)

兆 means “trillion, omen”

The story

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