The present data imply that $phi(2170)$ may not be an excited state of $phi$, but is a four quark state with $ssbar s bar s$ constituents. Furthermore, there are no two mesons of $sbar s$ available to form a molecule which fits the mass spectrum of $phi(2170)$, thus we suggest it should be an $ssbar s bar s$ tetraquark state. In this scenario, we estimate its decay rates through the fall-apart mechanism. Our theoretical estimates indicate that its main decay modes should be $phi(2170)$ into $phi f_0(980)$, $ h_1eta$, $ h_1eta$, $K_1(1270)K$ and $K_1(1400)K$. Under this hypothesis the modes $phi(2170)to K^*(890)^0bar K^*(890)^0$, $K^+K^-$ and $K^0_LK^0_S$ should be relatively suppressed. Since the width of $h_1$ is rather large, at present it is hard to gain precise data on $BR(phi(2170)to h_1eta)$ and $BR(phi(2170)to h_1eta)$ whose measurements may be crucial for drawing a definite conclusion about the inner assignment of $phi(2170)$. We lay our expectation to the proposed charm-tau factory which will have much larger luminosity and better capacities.
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