ChiramiN4 kanji · 15 strokes
質 means quality, substance
斤 axe · 斤 axe · 貝 money
質Memory trick
Two axes (斤) left with the money (貝) as a pledge: quality, substance.
Memory trick: a picture to help you remember the kanji, not its history.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- substance, quality, matter, temperament
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 15
- School grade
- Grade 5 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) たち tachi
たち (tachi) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
Other Japanese readings: ただす tadasu, もと moto, わりふ warifu
From Chinese (onyomi) シツ shitsu
シツ (shitsu) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: シチ shichi, チ chi
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
質問 しつもん · shitsumon
question, inquiry
Built from
- 斤 axe
- 貝 shell, money
- 目 eye
- 八 eight, split apart
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
斤 Used in 29 kanji
See all 4 at N5 and N4目 Used in 136 kanji
See all 14 at N5 and N4Quick check
What does 質 mean?
Right: 質 means quality, substance.Not quite: 質 means quality, substance.In 質問, which reading does 質 use?
Right. 質問 is read しつもん (shitsumon): 質 takes シツ, its reading from Chinese.Not quite. 質問 is read しつもん (shitsumon): 質 takes シツ, its reading from Chinese.