# 質 quality

斤 (axe) + 貝 (shellfish/money)
★★★★☆
15 strokes
COCK
COCK: in almost all the jukugo 質 means 'quality,' BUT the one jukugo that is used 90% of the time, 質 means 'question'!!!

## Onyomi

SHITSU |

## Mnemonic

| These two axes are the best-quality SHIT money can buy.

## Kunyomi

しつ ( が ) | quality, as in しつがいい、or しつ が わるい (the quality is good / bad). ★★★★☆

## Jukugo

質問(しつもん) する | question ★★★★★ 質 (quality) + 問 (question, problem) = 質問 (question) a question - usually used in a structured setting: interview, trial, test. BOOBOO: in casual conversation, people will say 尋ねる　or 聞く instead of 質問.
品質(ひんしつ) の | quality ★★★☆☆ 品 (products) + 質 (quality) = 品質 (quality) quality of merchandise　(品質のいい/品質の悪い）
性質(せいしつ) | essential nature ★☆☆☆☆ 性 (sex / essential nature) + 質 (quality) = 性質 (essential nature) natural quality. In contrast to 性格（せいかく）, 性質 applies to rocks and things as well as people and animals. Also it refers to the inner nature of people, rather than their social selves. So if you wanted to say that someone was very outgoing and loved sports and bars, you wouldn't use 性質. But if you wanted to say that someone was very stoic or honest, you would.

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
皆 | everyone | WHITE | 白
昆 | insect | SUN | 陽
質 | quality | BAMBOO | 竹

Everyone's heels trample on WHITE people,

but the SUN shines on insects that crawl on the high QUALITY bamboo.

## Synonyms

ask question に聞く に尋ねる に問う に質問する に伺う
personality 性格 性質 品性