Definition
不祥之兆 is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'an omen of bad things to come.' It's used in formal or literary contexts — news reports, historical writing, or dramatic storytelling — to describe a sign that something bad is about to happen. Unlike the English 'bad omen,' which can be used casually, 不祥之兆 carries a heavier, more ominous tone and is rarely used in everyday conversation.
n.
bad omenportent of misfortune
Examples
- ,不祥之兆。Wūyā zài wūdǐng jiào, gǔrén rènwéi zhè shì bù xiáng zhī zhào.Crows cawing on the roof — ancient people considered this a bad omen.
- ,不祥之兆。Dìzhèn qián dòngwù xíngwéi yìcháng, cháng bèi kànzuò bù xiáng zhī zhào.Abnormal animal behavior before an earthquake is often seen as a portent of disaster.
- ,不祥之兆。Tā liánxù zuò le jǐ ge èmèng, juéde shì bù xiáng zhī zhào.He had several nightmares in a row and felt it was a bad omen.
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