人质 rénzhì hostage
How to remember 人质: 人 person + 质 essence = hostage.
Characters
How it is used
- Hostage - 绑匪扣押了三名人质 (bǎngfěi kòuyāle sān míng rénzhì) the kidnappers held three hostages.
- Note 质 is read zhì here, not zhí. Pairs with 扣押/劫持 (jiéchí, seize), 释放 (release), measure word 名 or 个.
Example sentences
- 罪犯没有放人质们走。 Zuìfàn méiyǒu fàng rénzhì men zǒu.The criminal didn't let the hostages go.