人質
Meanings
1
hostage
A person held captive to demand something from a third party. Used in crime, war, and figurative contexts.
The bank robber took a customer hostage.
He is being held hostage as a bargaining chip.
Usage patterns
- 〈人〉を人質に取るto take someone hostage
The criminal took the bank clerk hostage.
- 人質にするto hold someone as a hostage
The terrorists held the passengers as hostages.
- 人質を解放するto release a hostage
After negotiations with the police, the hostage was released.
- 人質を救出するto rescue a hostage
The special forces rescued the hostages.
- 人質になるto become a hostage
He accidentally ended up becoming the robber's hostage.