Readings: シツ, チ (Onyomi), たち (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Quality, matter, substance, question, pawn, hostage
The kanji 質 originally depicted a person (斤) carrying money or shells (貝) as collateral, leading to meanings related to pledging or pawning. Over time, it also evolved to represent the essence or “quality” of something.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 質 consists of 15 strokes. It begins with the left-hand radical 斤 (axe) followed by the right-hand radical 貝 (shell/money). Pay close attention to the order and direction of each stroke, especially within the complex 貝 radical.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 貝 (かい) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 15 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | Grade 5 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シツ (SHITSU)
- チ (CHI)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- たち (TACHI)
Common Words Using 質
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 品質 | ひんしつ | quality (of goods/products) |
| 質問 | しつもん | question |
| 体質 | たいしつ | (physical) constitution; predisposition |
| 性質 | せいしつ | nature; property; characteristic |
| 物質 | ぶっしつ | material; substance |
| 資質 | ししつ | inherent quality; aptitude; talent |
| 実質 | じっしつ | substance; essence; actual (as opposed to superficial) |
| 画質 | がしつ | image quality |
| 音質 | おんしつ | sound quality |
| 特質 | とくしつ | specific characteristic; peculiar quality |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 質屋 | しちや | pawn shop (Note: This is an irregular reading, “jukujikun”, for this common word, not a standard kunyomi of 質 alone.) |
| 質に入れる | しちにいれる | to pawn (irregular reading) |
| 質草 | しちぐさ | pawned article (irregular reading) |
| 質物 | しちもつ | pawned article (irregular reading) |
| 質地 | しちち | mortgaged land (irregular reading) |
| 質流れ | しちながれ | forfeiture of pawned goods (irregular reading) |
| 質請け | しちうけ | redeeming a pawned article (irregular reading) |
| 質受 | しちうけ | pawn redemption (irregular reading) |
| 質請証 | しちうけしょう | pawn ticket (irregular reading) |
| 質権 | しちけん | right of pawn/pledge (irregular reading) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この商品の品質はとても良いです。
Kana: このしょうひんのひんしつはとてもよいです。
Romaji: Kono shōhin no hinshitsu wa totemo yoi desu.
English: The quality of this product is very good.
Japanese: 先生に質問があります。
Kana: せんせいにしつもんがあります。
Romaji: Sensei ni shitsumon ga arimasu.
English: I have a question for the teacher.
Japanese: 彼の体質はアレルギー体質です。
Kana: かれのたいしつはアレルギーたいしつです。
Romaji: Kare no taishitsu wa arerugī taishitsu desu.
English: He has an allergic constitution.
Japanese: その物質は何ですか。
Kana: そのぶっしつはなんですか。
Romaji: Sono busshitsu wa nan desu ka?
English: What is that substance?
Japanese: 彼は優しい性質を持っています。
Kana: かれはやさしいせいしつをもっています。
Romaji: Kare wa yasashii seishitsu o motteimasu.
English: He has a gentle nature.
Japanese: 画質が良いテレビが欲しいです。
Kana: がしつがよいテレビがほしいです。
Romaji: Gashitsu ga yoi terebi ga hoshii desu.
English: I want a TV with good image quality.
Japanese: この音楽は音質が素晴らしい。
Kana: このおんがくはおんしつがすばらしい。
Romaji: Kono ongaku wa onshitsu ga subarashii.
English: This music has amazing sound quality.
Japanese: その問題の実質的な解決策を見つけましょう。
Kana: そのもんだいのじっしつてきなかいけつさくをみつけましょう。
Romaji: Sono mondai no jisshitsuteki na kaiketsusaku o mitsukemashō.
English: Let’s find a substantial solution to that problem.
Japanese: 彼女はリーダーの資質がある。
Kana: かのじょはリーダーのししつがある。
Romaji: Kanojo wa rīdā no shishitsu ga aru.
English: She has the qualities of a leader.
Japanese: 質屋でお金を借りました。
Kana: しちやでおかねをかりました。
Romaji: Shichiya de okane o karimashita.
English: I borrowed money from a pawn shop.
Related Grammar & kanji list
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