質

Meaning

Quality, nature, pawn · calidad, naturaleza

Readings

• On (音読み): シツ・シチ・チ
• Kun (訓読み): —

Example words

• 質問（しつもん）— question
• 質（しつ）— quality
• 質屋（しちや）— pawnshop

Structure

Radical 貝 (かい・かいへん · Shell, money) · 15 strokes · school grade 5

Watch out

Spanish pregunta covers two words: 質問 is a question you ask someone (質問がある), an exam question is 問題, never ×試験の質問. 質 (calidad) vs 量 (りょう, cantidad): 質がいい = good quality. Two axes (斦) over a shell (貝, money) — goods pledged for cash, hence 質屋 (pawnshop, read シチ).