HSK · Level 85
45 words
Chinese word
人质
Pronunciation
Pinyinrén zhì
Meaning
- nounhostage
Example
警方已经救出了一名人质。jǐng fāng yǐ jīng jiù chū le yì míng rén zhì
The police have already rescued a hostage.
More examples
军队成功解救了被关押的人质。jūn duì chéng gōng jiě jiù le bèi guān yā de rén zhì
The army successfully rescued the hostage being held.
Core concept
A person whose freedom is taken so that another side can gain power in a negotiation or threat.
Common phrases
解救人质jiě jiù rén zhì
rescue a hostage
释放人质shì fàng rén zhì
release a hostage
劫持人质jié chí rén zhì
take a hostage
Similar words
受害者shòu hài zhě: A person harmed by a crime, accident, or other harmful event.
绑匪báng fěi: A criminal who takes people by force or threats, often to demand money.
囚犯qiú fàn: A person held by the authorities because of a crime.
俘虏fú lǔ: A soldier or civilian captured during a war or armed conflict.
Definition in Chinese
被某方扣押以便在谈判或要挟时作为交换或保证的人。bèi mǒu fāng kòu yā yǐ biàn zài tán pàn huò yāo xié shí zuò wéi jiāo huàn huò bǎo zhèng de rén
Word origin
The word 人质 (rénzhì, "hostage") joins 人 (rén, "person") and 质 (zhì, "pledge or security"), linking the modern sense to the former practice of using a person as a guarantee.
Usage tips
- In news and conversation, the surrounding verb often shows whether the person is taken, held, or released, so learning this noun with those action verbs makes event descriptions easier to follow.