A water-soluble, small molecular zinc fluorescence probe (ZFP) based on 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl) benzoxazole was prepared. It exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity to Zn2+ than the other metal ions. The highest fluorescence enhancement was observed in the presence of Zn2+ owing to the inhibition of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). Furthermore, fluorescence imaging experiments confirmed that ZFP can be used to monitor Zn2+ in biological systems.