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酮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
酮
tóng
ketone
g, 13 strokes, radical 酉, rank #9197, Very Hard
tóng(tong2)tong T2
1ketone
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March 24, 2026
酮tóng(tong2)
酮 (tóng) refers to a class of organic compounds characterized by a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two carbon atoms. Commonly encountered in chemistry, ketones play a significant role in various biological processes and are often involved in metabolic pathways. They are frequently discussed in the context of organic chemistry and biochemistry.
Strokes13Radical酉Frequency#9197DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of balance in bodily fluids often relates to ketones, as they can signify metabolic states like ketosis. This reflects a broader understanding of health and energy within Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'ton' of sugar on a table, where the 'ton' represents the weight of the carbon atoms. The character 酮 looks like a person (the '亻' radical) enjoying a 'ton' of sweetness, reminding you of the compound related to sugars and energy.
Meanings of 酮
tóng(tong2)
1ketone
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 酮 means.
About 酮
酮Simplified
13Strokes
酉Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 酮
Podcast: 酮
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AI study notes for 酮
Usage Notes
While酮 is primarily used in scientific contexts, learners should be cautious with its pronunciation, as it can be confused with similar-sounding words. It is generally used in formal settings, such as academic discussions or professional chemistry. Be mindful of using the correct tone to avoid misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
酮 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, but understanding it can help learners grasp more complex scientific terms. Focus on memorizing related vocabulary such as '醛' (aldehyde) and '酸' (acid), which are also organic compounds.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 酮 as 'kǒng' due to confusion with similar-sounding characters. Additionally, mixing it up with '酚' (phenol) is common, so be sure to practice distinguishing these terms.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 酮
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 酮 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
酮 = 酉 + 同. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 酮
IDS Structure⿰酉同
酮Full character
=
酉you3
left
同tong2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 酮?
How to say ketone in Chinese
“ketone” in Chinese is酮tóng
酮 (tóng) refers to a class of organic compounds characterized by a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two carbon atoms. Commonly encountered in chemistry, ketones play a significant role in various biological processes and are often involved in metabolic pathways. They are frequently discussed in the context of organic chemistry and biochemistry.
When to use 酮
While酮 is primarily used in scientific contexts, learners should be cautious with its pronunciation, as it can be confused with similar-sounding words. It is generally used in formal settings, such as academic discussions or professional chemistry. Be mindful of using the correct tone to avoid misunderstandings.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 酮 as 'kǒng' due to confusion with similar-sounding characters. Additionally, mixing it up with '酚' (phenol) is common, so be sure to practice distinguishing these terms.
Write 酮
酮
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Practice writing 酮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 酮
酮 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
解决了最初的一些问题之后，终于成功地制造出了大量丙____。
After some initial problems, acetone was successfully produced in quantity.
Example sentences for 酮 (7)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
解决了最初的一些问题之后，终于成功地制造出了大量丙酮。
jiějué le zuìchū de yìxiē wèntí zhīhòu， zhōngyú chénggōng dì zhìzào chū le dàliàng bǐng tóng。
After some initial problems, acetone was successfully produced in quantity.
2
牛的酮病会有一种甜而令人讨厌的气味.
niú de tóng bìng huì yǒu yī zhǒng tián ér lìng rén tǎoyàn de qìwèi.
There may be a sweet sickly smell of ketosis in cattle.
