Shen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Grass (cǎo) Entry: Bei Kangxi stroke count: 21 Page 1065, Entry 45 Pronounced bei. Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Simple and Compound Characters): Grass. Also, pronounced pi. Pronounced bei. Same meaning. Also, pronounced ben. Ornamentation on bamboo shoots. Erya (Approaching Nearness), chapter Explaining Vessels: The tail of a yak is called bei. Commentary: The tail of a yak, also known as bei, is what dancers hold. In Jiyun (Collection of Rhymes), it is sometimes written in a variant form.