人質(ひとじち)

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

Etymology

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 words

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