zhì

nature, substance

Original meaning: 

pledge, pawn

Phonosemantic compound. represents the sound and represents the meaning.

Components
斦 sound component

  Sound component

zhì

  

chopping block

貝 meaning component

  Meaning component

bèi

  

sea shell

In ancient China shells were used as currency.

Evolution

質 Bronze script Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze script

Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
質 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
質 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
質 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

zhì

matter, material, substance; character; nature; quality; plain; to pawn; pledge; hostage; to question; Taiwan pr. [zhí]

Most common words with 質
Freq.
Word
Meaning

质量

quality

物质

matter

人质

hostage

nature

质疑

to call into question

Component uses

Sound component in 2 characters (1 verified)