A sign, indication, or omen that something (good or bad) is about to happen; a symptom or early sign.
景気回復の兆しがようやく見えてきた。
Signs of economic recovery are finally starting to appear.
風邪の兆しがあるので今日は早く寝る。
I have the beginnings of a cold, so I'll go to bed early today.
計画に失敗する兆しがあったが、対策で回避できた。
There were signs that the plan might fail, but we avoided it with countermeasures.