人质 (rénzhì): hostage

Measure Word

一个人质 gè

Literally 'person pledge' - a person held as a guarantee

HSK 6

警方正在和劫匪谈判，争取救出人质。

Jǐngfāng zhèngzài hé jiéfěi tánpàn, zhēngqǔ jiù chū rénzhì.

The police are negotiating with the robbers, trying to rescue the hostages.

HSK 7-9

绑匪释放了所有人质。

Bǎngfěi shìfàng le suǒyǒu rénzhì.

The kidnappers released all the hostages.

memory

Think of 人 (person) + 质 (pledge/collateral) - a person used as collateral.

人 rén

质 zhì