to invite / to recruit / to levy (taxes) / to draft (troops) / phenomenon / symptom / characteristic sign (used as proof) / evidence
征
=
彳
+
正
:
James II of England (zh) recruited (征) the stick figure (正) to join him on an expedition (征). Legend has it that an ancient civilization left their black sneakers (彳) in front of the engine ((e)ng1). After they dug up most of the ground they finally find the sneakers.
(bound form) omen / to foretell / million; mega- / (Tw) trillion; tera- / (old) billion
兆
=
儿
+
丷
+
八
:
Mnemonic symbol: a vulture, as the ancient Greek observed vultures and deducted omens from their behavior. James II of England (zh) wants to know whether his coronation and his proposed eight-year plan is under a good omen (兆) and watches a vulture (兆) inside of the aorta's bathroom (ao4). In fact the vulture is ridden by Sun Wukong (儿) who is fighting a mean crocodile (丷) by throwing eight-balls (八) at it. The crocodile easily smashes the eight-balls with its large jaw. James II of England deduces that this is not a very good omen.