The invention provides a method for preparing nano zinc oxide by using liquid diaphragm discharge plasma. The method produces the nano zinc oxide by using zinc plates as an anode and a cathode and Na2SO4 solution as electrolyte, irradiating the zinc plate of the anode with liquid diaphragm discharge plasma, and electrochemically sacrificing the zinc plate of the anode. By using the principle of radiation chemistry, transient high temperature and local high pressure are produced in liquid with light and shock wave, and high-activity particles are also produced to initiate chemical reactions, enabling the reactions such as oxidation, reduction, decomposition and hydrolysis to prepare nanoparticles; the nano zinc oxide synthesized herein has good dispersity, low aggregating degree and uniform particle size distribution and has a promising application prospect in terms of catalysis, optics, magnetics, mechanics and the like; products are easy to separate, high in purity and free of pollution; in addition, the method has the advantages of mild conditions, controllable process, simple equipment, good operation convenience, low cost and the like and is applicable to industrial production.