Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
酯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
酯zhǐesterng, 13 strokes, radical 酉, rank #14273, Hard
zhǐ(zhi3) T3
  1. 1ester
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
酯zhǐ(zhi3)

酯 (zhǐ) refers to an organic compound known as an ester, which is formed from the reaction of an alcohol and an acid. Esters are commonly found in nature, particularly in fats and oils, and are often associated with pleasant aromas and flavors. They play a crucial role in the food and fragrance industries.

Strokes13Radical酉Frequency#14273DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, esters contribute to the scents of various food items like fruits and fermented products, making them significant in food flavoring and preservation. Understanding esters helps appreciate the complexity of traditional Chinese cooking.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sweet, fruity aroma wafting from a bottle of perfume, which is made from esters. The character 酯 consists of the radical for 'liquid' (氵) and 'fat' (脂), reminding you that esters often come from fats or oils. The pronunciation 'zhǐ' can sound like 'girth', making you think of how these compounds can add 'girth' to flavors and scents.

Meanings of 酯

zhǐ(zhi3)
1ester
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 酯

酯Simplified
13Strokes
酉Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 酯

JasonAmy

Podcast: 酯

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 酯

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a sweet, fruity aroma wafting from a bottle of perfume, which is made from esters. The character 酯 consists of the radical for 'liquid' (氵) and 'fat' (脂), reminding you that esters often come from fats or oils. The pronunciation 'zhǐ' can sound like 'girth', making you think of how these compounds can add 'girth' to flavors and scents.

Usage Notes

酯 is used primarily in scientific and technical contexts, particularly in chemistry and industry. Learners often confuse it with similar-sounding words; ensure you distinguish it from '脂' (fat) and '醇' (alcohol). Use it in formal contexts when discussing organic chemistry or related topics.

HSK Study Tips

酯 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, making it more specialized. However, it connects with other chemistry-related terms such as '酸' (acid) and '醇' (alcohol), which are more common. Focus on understanding its role in organic chemistry to better grasp its usage.

Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, esters contribute to the scents of various food items like fruits and fermented products, making them significant in food flavoring and preservation. Understanding esters helps appreciate the complexity of traditional Chinese cooking.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 酯 with 脂, mistakenly using 脂 when discussing esters. For example, saying '脂的香味' (the fragrance of fat) instead of '酯的香味' (the fragrance of esters) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 酯

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 酯 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 酯

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 酉 represents the meaning and 旨 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

chemical

Semantic (meaning)酉
+
Phonetic (sound)旨
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 酯?

Decomposition of 酯

IDS Structure⿰酉旨
酯Full Character
=
酉you3
left
旨zhi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 酯?

Write 酯

酯

Practice writing 酯 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 酯

酯 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

用不不不不不固态聚____版制作是间接由晴片来制版,不求给洋间步调.

Solid polyester version is direct female slice of seihan without intermediate step.

Example Sentences for 酯 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
用不不不不不固态聚酯版制作是间接由晴片来制版,不求给洋间步调.

yòng bù bù bù bù bù gù tài jù zhǐ bǎn zhì zuò shì jiān jiē yóu qíng piàn lái zhì bǎn, , bù qiú gěi yáng jiān bù.

Solid polyester version is direct female slice of seihan without intermediate step.
2
氨基甲酸苯酯除莠剂是发展最早的一种除莠剂.

ān jī jiǎ suān běn zhǐ chú yǒu jì shì fā zhǎn zuì zǎo de yī zhǒng chú yǒu jì.

Phenylcarbamate herbicides were among the earliest herbicides developed.
3
在许多情况下异氰酸酯同水, 醇和胺发生猛烈的反应.

zài xǔ duō qíng kuàng xià yì qíng suān zhǐ tóng shuǐ, , chún hé àn fā shēng měng liè de fǎn.

In many instances isocyanates react vigorously with water, alcohols, and amines.
4
六亚甲基二异氰酸酯 ( HMDI ) 可用在预聚物中代替甲苯二异氰酸酯〔TDI〕.

liù yà jiǎ jī èr yì qíng suān zhǐ(HMDI) ( HMDI ) kě yòng zài yù jù wù zhōng dài tì jiǎ běn èr yì qíng suān〔TDI〕.

Hexamethylene diisocyanate ( HMDI ) may be used in prepolymer, in place of TDI.
5
酞酸二丁酯一般用来作为这类增塑剂.

tài suān èr dīng zhǐ yī bān yòng lái zuò wéi zhè lèi zēng sù jì.

Dibutyl phthalate is commonly employed as such a plasticizer.
6
此酸的烯醇化几乎象酯一样良好.

cǐ suān de xī chún huà jī hū xiàng zhǐ yī yàng liáng hǎo.

The acid ewolises nearly as well as the ester.
7
将聚酯, 聚已酸乙稀酯从反应器中拿出来.

jiāng jù zhǐ, , jù yǐ suān yǐ xī zhǐ cóng fǎn yīng qì zhōng ná chū.

The polyester , polythylene adipate, was removed from the reactor.
8
在苯或乙酸乙酯溶液中其衰减速度随甲基丙烯酸甲脂浓度呈直线地增大.

zài běn huò yǐ suān yǐ zhǐ róng yè zhōng qí shuāi jiǎn sù dù suí jiǎ jī bǐng xī suān jiǎ zhī nóng dù chéng zhí xiàn dì zēng dà.

In benzene or ethyl acetate solution rates increase linearly with methyl methacrylate concentration.
9
试验结果表明,天然乳胶和聚氨基甲酸乙酯泡沫床垫燃烧得最快.

shì yàn jié guǒ biǎo míng, , tiān rán rǔ jiāo hé jù ān jī jiǎ suān yǐ zhǐ pào mò chuáng diàn rán shāo dé zuì.

The results of the tests indicated that latex and polyurethane foam mattresses burned fastest.
10
以水华鱼腥藻为材料研究了6种氨基甲酸酯类农药对藻类的毒性效应.

yǐ shuǐ huá yú xīng zǎo wéi cái liào yán jiū le6 6 zhǒng ān jī jiǎ suān zhǐ lèi nóng yào duì zǎo lèi de dú xìng xiào.

The toxicity effect of 6 carbamic ester pesticides on Anabaena flos - aquae was studied.

Cultural Notes for 酯

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese cuisine, esters contribute to the scents of various food items like fruits and fermented products, making them significant in food flavoring and preservation. Understanding esters helps appreciate the complexity of traditional Chinese cooking.

Word Family of 酯

Words Containing This Character8
酯zhǐester
聚酯polyester
聚氨酯polyurethane
酯酶esterase, enzyme that breaks up esters by hydrolysis
内酯lactone內酯
聚碳酸酯polycarbonate
酯化esterification
丙烯酸酯acrylic ester
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 酯 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 酯

An ester is a compound formed from the reaction of an alcohol and an acid, often characterized by a pleasant fragrance.