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.
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.
sign / symbol
'das Zeichen' and 'das Kennzeichen' can both help you recognize or understand something. 'Zeichen' is very general: it can be a marking, a symbol, or an indication. 'Kennzeichen' more often means a typical feature by which you recognize someone or something. In everyday language, 'Kennzeichen' is also often the license plate of a car. The words can be confused because both can indicate something. If something simply carries a meaning or points to something, 'Zeichen' fits. If it is about recognizing or identifying something, 'Kennzeichen' sounds more precise.
Das Kennzeichen des Autos war wegen des Schmutzes kaum zu lesen.
The car's license plate was hard to read because of the dirt.
Ein Haken neben dem Namen ist das Zeichen, dass die Aufgabe erledigt ist.
A check mark next to the name is the sign that the task is done.