Sentence #5803913 from Tatoeba · converted to simplified characters · translation adapted
How 人质 is built
Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
人rénperson; people
人 is a single shape of 2 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.
Memory aidA person walking, seen from the side: two legs.
质zhìcharacter
厂cliff · hǎn
十ten · shíSound part
贝sea shell · bèiMeaning part
贝 hints at the meaning (sea shell); 十 (shí) hints at the sound. Compare it with zhì.
How to write 人质
人 2 strokes · 质 8 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 人质 (rénzhì). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
Say it rénzhì: rén with a 2nd tone, then zhì with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 人质 is written 人質. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type renzhi with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 人质 from the suggestions. Typing renzhi into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
人质 is an HSK 6 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
Turn words into conversations
A dictionary gives you the words. A native teacher shows you how to use them. Start with a free 30-minute intro call.
Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
人rén2nd tone, rising
质zhì4th tone, falling
