人質

Noun

 * 1) hostage

Etymology
Compound of.

The original sense was “indentureship”, from the sense of a person being as if in pawn until a debt is paid. The “hostage” sense then arose by extension, from the person being in pawn until a ransom is paid or some other condition is met.

Noun

 * 1) a hostage
 * 2)  indentureship, the state of being in servitude to another as collateral on or payment of a debt
 * 1)  indentureship, the state of being in servitude to another as collateral on or payment of a debt
 * 1)  indentureship, the state of being in servitude to another as collateral on or payment of a debt
 * 1)  indentureship, the state of being in servitude to another as collateral on or payment of a debt