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酚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
fēncarbolic acid; phenolnz, 11 strokes, radical 酉, rank #20934, Hard
fēn(fen1) T1
  1. 1carbolic acid; phenol
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March 24, 2026
fēn(fen1)

酚 (fēn) refers to a type of organic compound known as phenol, which has a hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded to an aromatic hydrocarbon group. It is commonly used in the production of plastics, resins, and as a disinfectant. In chemistry contexts, it is important to differentiate phenol from other alcohols due to its specific properties and uses.

Strokes11RadicalFrequency#20934DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In modern Chinese medicine and sanitation, phenol has historical significance, as it was one of the first antiseptics used in surgery. Its application reflects a blend of traditional practices and modern scientific approaches in healthcare.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 酚 as a 'drink' (the 酉 radical suggests something liquid) with a special ingredient (the 'phenol' part), which might remind you of a potent potion. Imagine a scientist carefully handling this magical liquid that can both heal and harm, emphasizing its dual nature.

Meanings of 酚

fēn(fen1)
1carbolic acid; phenol
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 酚

Simplified
11Strokes
Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 酚

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AI Study Notes for 酚

Memory Mnemonic

Think of the character 酚 as a 'drink' (the 酉 radical suggests something liquid) with a special ingredient (the 'phenol' part), which might remind you of a potent potion. Imagine a scientist carefully handling this magical liquid that can both heal and harm, emphasizing its dual nature.

Usage Notes

酚 is used primarily in scientific and technical contexts, particularly in chemistry and related fields. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; when discussing substances, clarity in pronunciation is essential. It is often paired with terms like '酸' (suān, acid) to highlight its acidic properties.

HSK Study Tips

酚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, so focus on learning related chemical terms that are common in scientific discourse. Understanding the properties of 酚 can help in grasping concepts related to organic chemistry at this level.

Cultural Note

In modern Chinese medicine and sanitation, phenol has historical significance, as it was one of the first antiseptics used in surgery. Its application reflects a blend of traditional practices and modern scientific approaches in healthcare.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 酚 with related compounds like 酒精 (jiǔjīng, alcohol) due to their similar applications. Remember, 酚 specifically refers to phenol and not just any alcohol.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 酚

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Etymology of 酚

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

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

Memory Hint

chemical

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 酚?

Decomposition of 酚

IDS Structure⿰酉分
Full Character
=
you3
left
fen1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 酚?

Write 酚

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

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Grammar Patterns of 酚

酚 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 3

Complete the Sentence

胼胝质的染剂是苯胺蓝, 间苯二____蓝和玫红酸.

Callose stains are aniline blue, resorcin blue and rosolic acid.

Example Sentences for 酚 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
胼胝质的染剂是苯胺蓝, 间苯二酚蓝和玫红酸.

pián zhī zhì de rǎn jì shì běn àn lán, , jiān běn èr fēn lán hé méi hóng.

Callose stains are aniline blue, resorcin blue and rosolic acid.
2
酒和醋氨酚同时服用对肝脏的危害特别大.

jiǔ hé cù ān fēn tóng shí fú yòng duì gān zāng de wēi hài tè bié dà.

Alcohol use with acetaminophen is especially especially bad for the liver.
3
目的观察异丙酚与曲吗多在人工流产中的应用效果.

mù de guān chá yì bǐng fēn yǔ qū ma duō zài rén gōng liú chǎn zhōng de yīng yòng xiào guǒ.

Objective To observe analgesic effect of diprovan and tramadol in induced abortion.

Cultural Notes for 酚

🏮Cultural insight

In modern Chinese medicine and sanitation, phenol has historical significance, as it was one of the first antiseptics used in surgery. Its application reflects a blend of traditional practices and modern scientific approaches in healthcare.

Word Family of 酚

Words Containing This Character5
fēnphenol
苯酚phenol C6H5OH
酚酞phenolphthalein
甲酚cresol (chemistry)
酚醛phenolic aldehyde
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 酚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 酚

Phenol is used in various household products, including disinfectants and antiseptics, highlighting its relevance in maintaining hygiene.