license plate / characteristic
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license plate
The official plate with a combination of letters and numbers on a vehicle used to identify it; the number plate.
Die Polizei notierte sich das Kennzeichen des flüchtigen Wagens.
The police noted down the license plate of the fleeing car.
characteristic
A typical feature or quality by which someone or something can be recognized.
Die gestreiften Blätter sind ein klares Kennzeichen dieser Pflanzenart.
The striped leaves are a clear characteristic of this plant species.
The word is made up of 'kennen' (to know) and 'Zeichen' (sign). A 'Kennzeichen' is therefore literally a 'sign for recognizing'. This fits both the license plate on a car and a typical feature.
Anhand der Spuren im Schnee konnten sie das Tier erkennen.
They were able to recognize the animal from the tracks in the snow.
When it has to do with cars, traffic, or the police, it almost always means the license plate. In all other contexts, especially when describing people, animals, or things, it means 'Merkmal' (feature) or 'Eigenschaft' (quality).
Der Falschparker hatte ein Hamburger Kennzeichen.
The illegally parked car had a Hamburg license plate.
In connection with license plates, typical verbs are: 'sich ein Kennzeichen merken' (to remember a license plate), 'ein Kennzeichen notieren' (to note down a license plate), or 'ein Kennzeichen überprüfen' (to check a license plate).
Der Zeuge konnte sich das Kennzeichen des Unfallwagens merken.
The witness was able to remember the license plate of the car involved in the accident.
In the meaning of 'Merkmal' (feature), the genitive or 'von' + dative is often used to indicate what something is a characteristic of. For example: 'das Kennzeichen des Erfolgs' (the characteristic of success) or 'ein Kennzeichen von hoher Qualität' (a characteristic of high quality).
Die Fähigkeit zur Anpassung ist ein Kennzeichen intelligenter Systeme.
The ability to adapt is a characteristic of intelligent systems.
feature
For a detail by which you recognize something, both Merkmal and Kennzeichen can fit. Merkmal is the neutral, general term for a recognizable characteristic, while Kennzeichen emphasizes more strongly that the detail serves to identify something. Use Kennzeichen when recognition is the main focus.
Die auffällige rote Tür ist das Kennzeichen dieses alten Hauses.
The striking red door is the identifying characteristic of this old house.
Die runde Form ist ein Merkmal dieses alten Hauses.
The round shape is a feature of this old house.
