素質

简 素质 · 繁 素質
Mandarin · pinyin sù zhì

Meanings

  1. inner quality
  2. basic essence
Full entryShow on map

Characters in this entry

素
sù · white (silk); plain; vegetarian; formerly; normally
質
Look up this written character
质
zhì · matter, material, substance
Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

Explore the spelling

Mandarin tones

4–4 · su4 zhi4

Compare attested words with these syllables ↗

Dictionary tones. Connected speech can change their realization.

Connected dictionary

2character links
Explore word families ↗Compare pronunciations ↗Open character structure ↗
Counts describe dictionary records, not word frequency or semantic similarity. Source identities stay separate.

Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

素質 · find source passages ↗ · 素质 · find source passages ↗

Explore Classical grammar ↗

Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 6 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

sou3 zat1

Cantonese word readings for 素質. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

CanCLID contributors · CC BY 4.0 · source & license · Data pack

Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

noun

  1. inner quality; innate quality
  2. calibre; quality
  3. personal accomplishment; attainment; self-control; self-cultivation
  4. character; nature; intrinsic quality; essence
  5. (Classical) white material; white texture
  6. (Classical) white complexion; pale complexion

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source & license · Data pack