人质
Traditional: 人質
rén zhì HSK 6

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

恐怖分子扣押了三名人质。
Kǒngbù fènzǐ kòuyā le sān míng rénzhì.
The terrorists detained three hostages.
警方成功解救了所有人质。
Jǐngfāng chénggōng jiějiù le suǒyǒu rénzhì.
The police successfully rescued all the hostages.
谈判的目的是释放人质。
Tánpàn de mùdì shì shìfàng rénzhì.
The purpose of the negotiation is to release the hostages.
人质被释放了。
Rénzhì bèi shìfàng le.
The hostage was released.
他是人质。
Tā shì rénzhì.
He is a hostage.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 人 (rén) means 'person,' and 质 (zhì) can mean 'quality' or 'substance,' but here it implies something held as security—think of a person being used as 'collateral' or 'material' in a high-stakes situation.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in tone and used in both formal and informal contexts, including news reports, legal discussions, and everyday conversation. It is common in written and spoken language when describing incidents involving captivity, such as in crime, terrorism, or historical conflicts.

📖 Grammar Points

人质 is typically used as a noun in sentences, often preceded by a numeral-classifier phrase (e.g., 一名人质, 'one hostage') or modified by verbs like 扣留 (detain) or 释放 (release). It can serve as a subject, object, or part of a prepositional phrase.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese media and discourse, 人质 is frequently associated with reports on terrorism, criminal acts, or historical events like wartime hostage situations. It carries a serious connotation, reflecting societal concerns over safety and conflict resolution.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar words include 俘虏 (fúlǔ, 'prisoner of war/captive'), which specifically refers to captives in military contexts, and 人犯 (rénfàn, 'criminal suspect'), a legal term for an accused person. 人质 differs as it emphasizes the use of a person as leverage, often in non-military situations like crimes or terrorism.

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