人質

ひとじち

hostage

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"" means "hostage" and is used to describe a person held captive to force demands or negotiations.

Common Contexts

It often appears in news reports, crime stories, or discussions about kidnappings and negotiations.

Collocations

  • る (take hostages): used when someone captures people to use as leverage.
  • する (release hostages): used when hostages are freed.

Usage Notes

This word is formal and mostly used in serious contexts involving crime or conflict. It is not used metaphorically in casual speech.

Example Sentences

The terrifying criminal took hostages and barricaded himself.

They released the hostages for negotiations.

The safety of the hostages is the top priority.