质
zhì
character
nature; quality; plain; to pawn; pledge; hostage; to question; Taiwan pr. [zhi2]
cliff (厂) + ten (十) + shell (贝) = innate quality or pledge
贝 (cowrie shell) carries the core meaning — shells were ancient currency, so 质 evokes the intrinsic worth or nature of something pledged or examined. 十 mainly lends sound; 厂 provides the structural frame.
这块布的质地很好，摸起来很软。
zhè kuài bù de zhì dì hěn hǎo，mō qǐ lái hěn ruǎn。
The texture of this piece of cloth is very good; it feels very soft to the touch.
这个产品的质量不错，值得买。
zhè ge chǎn pǐn de zhì liàng bù cuò，zhí de mǎi。
The quality of this product is quite good; it is worth buying.
Words with 质
质粒
zhì lì
plasmid
连续介质力学
lián xù jiè zhì lì xué
mechanics of a continuous medium
递质
dì zhì
neurotransmitter
遗传物质
yí chuán wù zhì
genetic material
钙质
gài zhì
calcium
银质
yín zhì
made of silver
银质奖
yín zhì jiǎng
silver medal
铁镁质
tiě měi zhì
mafic rock (containing magnesium and iron, so comparatively heavy, making oceanic plates)
间充质
jiān chōng zhì
mesenchyme (loosely organized embryonic connective tissue)
间充质干细胞
jiān chōng zhì gàn xì bāo
mesenchymal stem cell MSC (in cell biology)
间质
jiān zhì
mesenchyme (physiology)
杂质
zá zhì
impurity