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Kanji Detail for 質 - "quality, nature"

質

  • Meaning

    質 means "quality, nature." Also associated with simple.

    1. Quality - The nature of something; character.

    2. Nature - Inherent characteristics; essence.

    3. Simple - Plain and unadorned; straightforward.

    4. Question - To inquire; to ask about.

    5. Pledge - A security deposit; collateral.

  • Words using 質

    • 質問 しつもん Listen question; inquiry; enquiry
    • 実質 じっしつ Listen substance; essence; substantive
    • 物質 ぶっしつ Listen material; substance; matter
    • 体質 たいしつ Listen constitution (physical); physical make-up; predisposition (to disease)
    • 実質的 じっしつてき Listen substantial; real (as opposed to nominal)
    • 質疑 しつぎ Listen question; interpellation
    • 本質 ほんしつ Listen essence; true nature; substance
    • 人質 ひとじち Listen hostage

  • Four-character idioms with 質

    • 体質改善 たいしつかいぜん Listen improvement of one's constitution; reformation
    • 文質彬彬 ぶんしつひんぴん Listen harmony of beauty and substance; (perfect) balance of looks and character; harmony of refinement and simplicity
    • 羊質虎皮 ようしつこひ Listen sheep in a tiger's skin; gimcrack; showy without real worth
    • 質実剛健 しつじつごうけん Listen unaffected and sincere, with fortitude and vigor (vigour)
    • 質疑応答 しつぎおうとう Listen question and answer session
    • 質素倹約 しっそけんやく Listen (practice of) simplicity and frugality; scrimping and saving

  • Tattoo check: 質

    • Verified meaning: quality, nature
    • Official Jōyō kanji — a standard character every Japanese reader recognises
    • Used in real Japanese given names (read ただし)
    • Also carries these associations: simple

    A single kanji rarely maps one-to-one onto an English word. Read the meanings and associations above as a set — a character that fits the dictionary definition can still carry a connotation you did not intend.

  • Name readings of 質

    Given names 質(ただし)Listen

  • Dictionary Citations

    The meaning above is based on the following sources:

    KANJIDIC2 A comprehensive Japanese-English kanji dictionary

    substance; quality; matter; temperament

    Unihan Unicode Han Database for CJK characters

    matter, material, substance

    CC-CEDICT A Chinese-English dictionary

    character; nature; quality; plain; to pawn; pledge; hostage; to question; Taiwan pr. [zhi2]

    Make Me a Hanzi Open-source Chinese character data

    essence, nature; material, substance

    XSZD Xuéshēng Zìdiǎn (學生字典) - Student's Dictionary

    Substance. The original body of all things is called 質. Such as 氣質 (temperament), 流質 (liquid), 定質 (solid). Also the finest division of matter is called 質點 (particle). Pure and unmixed particles are called 原質 (element). | A person's natural disposition is also called 質. Such as 姿質 (natural quality), 質地 (substance). | Plain. The opposite of 文 (refined). "Analects" says "When substance exceeds refinement, one is rustic. When refinement exceeds substance, one is pedantic." | To verify. Consulting to determine right and wrong is called 質. Such as saying 質疑 (question). | To pledge as security. Such as in the Spring and Autumn period, Zhou and Zheng exchanged hostages. Meaning each side pledged trusted persons as security. Today pledging goods to borrow money is also called 質. Read Entering tone.

  • Onyomi

    tip

    chi(チ) チ

    shichi(シチ) シチ

    shitsu(シツ) シツ

  • Kunyomi

    tip

    moto(もと) もと

    tachi(たち) たち

    tada.su(ただ-す) ただ-す

    warifu(わりふ) わりふ

  • Strokes

    tip

    15 strokes

  • Radical

    tip

    貝 (kai・kaihen・kogai)

  • Related Keywords

    quality nature simple authentic pledge probe question sincerity substance target tribute unadorned character essence composition criterion standard property texture trait feature collateral deposit security inquire ask plain straightforward

Sentences including 質

  • He needs to answer the question.

  • He didn't answer the question on purpose.

  • I asked the doctor some questions.

  • He kindly answered questions.

  • He annoys me with questions.

  • I have a question.

  • He asked an awkward question.

  • May i ask a couple of questions?

  • She asked the same question of everyone in turn.

  • He asked a question about it.

Sentences from Japanese classical masterpieces

More kanji with the radical 貝 (kai・kaihen・kogai)

See all kanji with this radical →

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