Meaning and Usage
"人質" 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
- 人質を取る (take hostages): used when someone captures people to use as leverage.
- 人質を解放する (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.