征凶

1. Prognostic: The act of advancing, setting out, or pressing an issue leads to a disastrous or unfavorable outcome.

2. Narrative: A military or legal action directed against a culprit or the source of misfortune.

In formulaic contexts, the phrase often follows a [Trigger] → [Result] logic rather than standard subject-verb-object syntax, where the second glyph represents the consequence of the first.

To distinguish between prognostic and narrative senses, check for binary oppositions in the surrounding text. The presence of terms such as 吉 (auspicious) or 利 (beneficial) typically indicates a verdict on the viability of an action; contexts concerning legal pursuit suggest 凶 refers to a "culprit."

Avoid reading 凶 as an adjective modifying 征 (e.g., "a violent expedition"). In most formulaic contexts, these are two distinct units: the Act and the Verdict.