TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
質
質 ＝ 斦 ＋ 貝
ㄓˋ · zhì
noun — substance, quality; nature — verb — to pledge, to question
字源 FORM — what the parts do
斦聲gives the soundzhì — two axes 斤 set down as a pledge against value; worn so it reads as plain 斤斤
Goods set against goods as a pledge — wealth (貝) under 斦, a pair of axes (斤+斤) staked in exchange. 斦 carries the sound zhì but reads now as two plain 斤. From the thing pledged comes the substance itself: 品質 quality, 實質 essence, 本質 the nature of a thing; from facing a pledge, 質問 to call to account, 人質 a hostage.
意 · Meanings
(本義)質、抵押— a pledge, to pawn
→品質、本質— quality; substance, nature常用
⇒質問、人質— to call to account; a hostage常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension