A borondipyrromethene-based Zn²⁺ fluorescent probe BODPAQ was designed and synthesized. The chelators in BODPAQ, 2,2′-dipicolylamine (DPA) and 8-aminoquinoline (AQ), coordinate to Zn²⁺ in a synergic manner. As a result, BODPAQ displays high Zn²⁺ selectivity with a dramatic enhanced emission accompanied by a notable hypsochromic shift due to the binary inhibition effect of PET and ICT mechanisms, enabling the detection of Zn²⁺ by both ratiometric and normal turn-on fluorescence methods in acetonitrile. Interestingly, the sensitivity of BODPAQ towards Zn²⁺ changes upon varying the compositions of buffer solutions. In 3-morpholinopropanesulfonic acid (MOPS) buffer aqueous solution (50% CH₃CN), BODPAQ displays the highest sensitivity for Zn²⁺, while in citrate–phosphate buffer, BODPAQ shows no response to Zn²⁺.