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March 24, 2026
人质(人質)rénzhì(ren2zhi4)
人质 (rén zhì) refers to a person who is held captive or used as leverage in a negotiation, often in a criminal or political context. This term is commonly used in discussions about security, law enforcement, and international relations, where the safety of hostages may be at stake.
Frequency#2396DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese media, stories involving 人质 are often covered in the context of rescue operations or political negotiations, reflecting the gravity of the situation and the value placed on human life. This highlights societal concerns over safety and security.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (人) tied up (质) in a negotiation. The character for '人' looks like a person standing, while '质' can be envisioned as a bond or a tie. Together, they depict someone being held, helping you remember the pronunciation 'rén zhì'.
Meanings of 人质
rénzhì(ren2zhi4)
1hostage
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 人质
人质Simplified
人質Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2396Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 人质
Podcast: 人质
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AI Study Notes for 人质
Quick Contrast
人质 (hostage) vs 拘留者 (detainee) — use 人质 when the person is held for leverage, not just for legal reasons.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (人) tied up (质) in a negotiation. The character for '人' looks like a person standing, while '质' can be envisioned as a bond or a tie. Together, they depict someone being held, helping you remember the pronunciation 'rén zhì'.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the context in which you use 人质, as it can carry a serious connotation. It is typically used in formal settings like news reports or legal discussions. A common mistake is to confuse it with terms like '人' (person) or '质' (quality), which have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 人质 connects with other terms related to law and security, such as 劫持 (jié chí, to hijack) and 安全 (ān quán, safety). Focus on understanding the contexts in which these words appear to grasp their nuances.
Cultural Note
In Chinese media, stories involving 人质 are often covered in the context of rescue operations or political negotiations, reflecting the gravity of the situation and the value placed on human life. This highlights societal concerns over safety and security.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 人质 to refer to any captive person, such as a prisoner of war, which is incorrect. The correct term for a prisoner of war is 战俘 (zhàn fú).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 人质
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Grammar Patterns of 人质
人质 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
尽管这篇关于____的报道有些夸大其词，但还算公正。
The reporting of the hostage story was fair, if sometimes overblown.
Prisoners armed with baseball bats used the hostages to hold police at bay.
9
在银行抢劫案中有三名儿童被扣为人质。
zài yín háng qiāng jié àn zhōng yǒu sān míng ér tóng bèi kòu wéi rén zhì。
Three children were taken hostage during the bank robbery.
Cultural Notes for 人质
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese media, stories involving 人质 are often covered in the context of rescue operations or political negotiations, reflecting the gravity of the situation and the value placed on human life. This highlights societal concerns over safety and security.
Frequently Asked Questions about 人质
You can use it in a sentence like: '警方正在与劫匪谈判，试图释放人质。' (The police are negotiating with the kidnappers to try to release the hostages.)
The opposite concept could be '自由人' (zì yóu rén), meaning 'free person', as it refers to someone who is not held captive.
It's best to avoid using 人质 in casual conversation due to its serious implications; it's more appropriate in formal discussions about crime or politics.
