HSK 7, n, 14 strokes, radical 酉, rank #11547, Very Hard
酶
méi
ferment
HSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, radical 酉, rank #11547, Very Hard
méi(mei2) T2
1enzyme; to ferment
2ferment
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March 24, 2026
酶méi(mei2)
酶 (méi) refers to enzymes, which are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms. This term is commonly used in scientific contexts, particularly in biology and chemistry, to discuss processes such as fermentation and metabolism.
Strokes14Radical酉Frequency#11547DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese medicine, the concept of fermentation is important, as it relates to traditional practices like brewing and pickling, which are integral to Chinese cuisine.
Memory Tip
Think of 酶 (méi) as a 'maze' where enzymes navigate to speed up reactions. The '酶' character has the radical for 'liquid' (氵), hinting at its role in biochemical reactions, often involving liquids like water.
Meanings of 酶
méi(mei2)
1enzyme; to ferment
2ferment
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 酶
酶Simplified
14Strokes
酉Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 酶
Podcast: 酶
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AI Study Notes for 酶
Usage Notes
This term is generally used in formal scientific language. A common mistake is using it incorrectly in everyday conversation, where more general terms like '食物' (food) might be more appropriate. Be careful with the pronunciation, emphasizing the second tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 酶 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can help learners grasp related scientific terms. Focus on the context of biology and chemistry to connect with other vocabulary in these fields at HSK levels 4 and above.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 酶 with other similar-sounding words. For example, mixing it up with 美 (měi), which means 'beautiful.' The correct usage is crucial in scientific discussions.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 酶
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Phonosemantic compound. 酉 represents the meaning and 每 represents the sound.
1The meaning half酉 carries the sense.
2The sound half每 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaychemical
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 酶? 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 酶?
Decomposition of 酶
IDS Structure⿰酉每
酶Full Character
=
酉you3
left
每mei3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 酶?
How to say enzyme; to ferment in Chinese
“enzyme; to ferment” in Chinese is酶méi
酶 (méi) refers to enzymes, which are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms. This term is commonly used in scientific contexts, particularly in biology and chemistry, to discuss processes such as fermentation and metabolism.
When to use 酶
This term is generally used in formal scientific language. A common mistake is using it incorrectly in everyday conversation, where more general terms like '食物' (food) might be more appropriate. Be careful with the pronunciation, emphasizing the second tone.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 酶 with other similar-sounding words. For example, mixing it up with 美 (měi), which means 'beautiful.' The correct usage is crucial in scientific discussions.
Write 酶
酶
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Practice writing 酶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 酶
酶 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). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. 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
破坏一种____可能会导致在别处出现异常。
Tampering with a single enzyme can lead to untoward effects elsewhere.
Example Sentences for 酶 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
破坏一种酶可能会导致在别处出现异常。
pò huài yī zhǒng méi kě néng huì dǎo zhì zài bié chǔ chū xiàn yì cháng。
Tampering with a single enzyme can lead to untoward effects elsewhere.
2
这种酶会使啤酒更容易过滤。
zhè zhǒng méi huì shǐ pí jiǔ gēng róng yì guò lǜ。
This enzyme would make the filtration of beer easier.
