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醚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
醚míethern, 16 strokes, radical 酉, rank #51794, Very Hard
mí(mi2) T2
  1. 1ether
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

醚mí(mi2)

醚 (mí) refers to a class of organic compounds known as ethers, characterized by an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups. These compounds are commonly used as solvents or in the production of various chemicals, and they are often encountered in scientific contexts, particularly in chemistry and pharmacology.

Strokes16Radical酉Frequency#51794DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of ether is not commonly discussed, but modern chemistry has introduced it into scientific discourse. The study of chemical compounds like 醚 reflects China's growing emphasis on scientific education and innovation.

Memory Tip

Think of 醚 (mí) as a 'mystical' substance (the 'mi' sound) found in potions (the '醚' part resembles a flask symbolizing chemistry). Imagine a wizard using ether in a potion to create magical effects, linking its pronunciation to its chemical properties.

Meanings of 醚

mí(mi2)
1ether
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 醚

醚Simplified
16Strokes
酉Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 醚

JasonAmy

Podcast: 醚

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 醚

Usage Notes

This term is primarily used in scientific and technical contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Be careful with pronunciation, as similar-sounding words can lead to misunderstandings. Common collocations include '醚类化合物' (ether compounds) and '醚的性质' (properties of ethers).

HSK Study Tips

While 醚 is not included in the standard HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your grasp of scientific terminology in Mandarin. Focus on related chemistry vocabulary as you progress, as they often share similar structures and radicals.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 醚 with similar-sounding words like 米 (mǐ, rice) or 迷 (mí, to be lost). Ensure you practice the correct tones to avoid these mix-ups.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 醚

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Etymology of 醚

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

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

Memory Hint

chemical

Semantic (meaning)酉
+
Phonetic (sound)迷
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 醚

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

  1. 1The meaning half酉 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half迷 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaychemical
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 醚? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 醚?

Decomposition of 醚

IDS Structure⿰酉迷
醚Full Character
=
酉you3
left
迷mi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 醚?

How to say ether in Chinese

“ether” in Chinese is醚mí

醚 (mí) refers to a class of organic compounds known as ethers, characterized by an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups. These compounds are commonly used as solvents or in the production of various chemicals, and they are often encountered in scientific contexts, particularly in chemistry and pharmacology.

When to use 醚

This term is primarily used in scientific and technical contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Be careful with pronunciation, as similar-sounding words can lead to misunderstandings. Common collocations include '醚类化合物' (ether compounds) and '醚的性质' (properties of ethers).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 醚 with similar-sounding words like 米 (mǐ, rice) or 迷 (mí, to be lost). Ensure you practice the correct tones to avoid these mix-ups.

Write 醚

醚

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 醚

Words Containing This Character4
醚míether
乙醚ether
甲醚methyl ether CH3OCH3
丙醚n-propyl ether
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 醚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 醚

醚 specifically refers to ethers, which have an oxygen atom bonded to two organic groups, unlike alcohols which have a hydroxyl group.

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