zat1 zi2質子质子
Jyutpingzat1 zi2
Yalejāt jí
Definition
An ancient East Asian prince sent to another state as a political hostage.
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How it's used
Historical texts often use this term to describe the precarious position of royal family members caught in power struggles between states. It carries a heavy connotation of sacrifice and political vulnerability, distinguishing it from a common prisoner. In modern contexts, it is almost exclusively encountered in historical dramas or academic discussions about ancient diplomacy.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
As a hostage prince, he lived a very hard life in the enemy state.
Sending a hostage prince to the neighboring state back then was to exchange for peace.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with the modern scientific term for a proton, which is also written as 質子 in Chinese. Context is essential to distinguish between the historical political hostage and the subatomic particle.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
