also: げんしつ · げんしち
noun
verbal commitment; pledge; promise
Refers to a spoken promise or statement that binds the speaker, often used in contexts where one's words are taken as a guarantee. Common in phrases like 言質を取る (to get a commitment from someone).
彼から確かな言質を取った。
I got a firm commitment from him.
言質を与えないように気をつけた。
I was careful not to give any verbal pledge.
Rare alternate reading; may be considered non-standard or dialectal.
Compound of 言 (word, speech) and 質 (substance, quality, or pawn/pledge). The combination suggests words given as a pledge or guarantee.