How to say "Sign" in Japanese

When translating "sign" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 兆し and 徴候. In Japanese, 兆し (きざし (kizashi)) is typically associated with "sign, omen, symptom, indication, harbinger" (Syllabus Level: N2) and represents Similar to 兆候 but often implies an earlier, fainter, or more subtle sign of something beginning to happen, often positive or neutral, but can also be negative.. On the other hand, 徴候 (ちょうこう (choukou)) maps to "sign, symptom, indication, omen, harbinger" (Syllabus Level: N1) and represents Refers to an early sign or symptom that indicates the presence or impending occurrence of something, often something negative like a disease or a problem. Can be physical or abstract.. A literal translation of "sign" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!