质zhì
Character evolution
质
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简体
Simplified Chinese
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Shuowen
Quality. The character 质 (traditional 質) combines 贝 (shell, money) with 斤 (a weight or axe), indicating the act of weighing or assessing value. Oracle bone examples display a shell beside a weight, giving the original sense of measuring goods or comparing their worth. The semantic link between money and weight explains why 质 came to denote nature, essence, or quality.
Pinyin
zhì· HSK 2