zhì

nature, substance

Original meaning: 

pledge, pawn

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the sound and represents the meaning.

Components
斤 simplified component

  Simplified component

jīn

  

axe

Shorthand for the phonetic component in the traditional character .

贝 meaning component

  Meaning component

bèi

  

sea shell

In ancient China shells were used as currency.

Evolution

质 Bronze script Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze script

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

Seal script

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

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
质 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
质 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

zhì

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

Most common words with 质
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)

𬃊