sign / shield
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sign
A board or plate with an inscription, symbol, or image that gives information, instructions, or warnings.
Ein Schild am Eingang wies auf die geänderten Öffnungszeiten hin.
A sign at the entrance pointed out the changed opening hours.
In the meaning of 'Informationstafel' (information board), 'das Schild' (sign) is often combined into new words, such as 'Verkehrsschild' (traffic sign), 'Namensschild' (name tag), or 'Warnschild' (warning sign). A common phrase is also 'Auf dem Schild steht...' (The sign says...).
Auf dem Schild stand: „Betreten der Baustelle verboten!"
The sign said: "Entering the construction site is prohibited!"
The verb 'beschildern' (to signpost) is derived from the noun 'das Schild' (sign). It means to equip a place or route with signs.
Die neue Wanderroute ist noch nicht vollständig beschildert.
The new hiking route is not yet fully signposted.
To recognize the correct meaning, pay attention to the context. In everyday life and road traffic, it usually means an information sign. In historical texts, it means a protective weapon, and in biology, the shell of an animal.
An der Autobahn stand ein Schild mit einer Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung.
There was a sign with a speed limit on the highway.
sign / symbol
'Zeichen' and 'Schild' can both give information. However, a 'Zeichen' is more general: it can be a symbol, a signal, a gesture, an indication, or even a letter. A 'Schild', on the other hand, is usually a concrete object, that is, a board or plate with text, a symbol, or an image. So a 'Zeichen' can appear on a 'Schild'. Learners often confuse the words because, for example, traffic symbols appear on signs. If you mean the object, say 'Schild'. If you mean the symbol or signal, say 'Zeichen'.
Vor dem Bahnhof steht ein großes Schild mit den Abfahrtszeiten der Busse.
There is a large sign with the bus departure times in front of the station.
Das rote Zeichen an der Tür bedeutet, dass man hier nicht rauchen darf.
The red sign on the door means that you are not allowed to smoke here.