人質(ひとじち)

ひとじち
noun
hostage
1. hostage
A person held captive as security for the fulfillment of certain conditions.
人質(ひとじち)が解放(かいほう)された。
The hostage was released.
人質(ひとじち)を取(と)る。
To take hostages.
人質(ひとじち)の安全(あんぜん)を確保(かくほ)することが最(もっと)も大切(たいせつ)だ。
Ensuring the hostages' safety is the most important thing.

人質(ひとじち) combines 人(ひと) (person) and 質(しち) (pledge/pawn/collateral). Literally "a person used as collateral."

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 人質(ひとじち)を取(と)る: to take hostages
  • 人質(ひとじち)を解放(かいほう)する: to release hostages
  • 人質(ひとじち)にする: to hold someone hostage
  • 人質(ひとじち)事件(じけん): hostage incident/crisis
  • 人質(ひとじち)救出(きゅうしゅつ): hostage rescue
  • 人質(ひとじち)交渉(こうしょう): hostage negotiations

HISTORICAL NOTE:
In feudal Japan, 人質(ひとじち) referred to family members (often wives and children of feudal lords) held as guarantees of loyalty. This was a formal political practice, not a criminal act.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 誘拐(ゆうかい): kidnapping
  • 身代金(みのしろきん): ransom

Related Words

Related: 解放(かいほう)
general
Added 2026.2.3 14:02 · Revised 2026.3.25 15:54
09500/09678_hitojichi