You Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Cowrie (bèi) Bian Kangxi strokes: 12 Page 1206, Entry 20 Pronounced bian (falling tone) Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Simple and Compound Characters): To diminish. Gongyang Zhuan (Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals): Why is the surname not recorded? To diminish. Commentary: Diminish is synonymous with to lessen. Du Yu, Preface to the Spring and Autumn Annals: Although the Spring and Autumn Annals uses single characters for praise and blame. Also, Book of Odes (Shijing), Greater Odes: My position is greatly diminished. Commentary: Diminished means to fall. Yupian (Jade Chapters): To reduce. Zengyun (Additional Rhymes): To demote or suppress. Pronounced peng (falling tone). Same meaning. Also written in the variant form bian. Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Office of Autumn: In times of national famine, govern according to the law of emergency reduction. Commentary: Bian should be read as bian. In times of famine, there are punishments, and national affairs are reduced or lessened to create temporary laws. Also written in the variant form bian. Book of Rites (Liji), Jade Beads: Standing posture is reduced. Commentary: Bian is read as bian. To reduce oneself means to bow deeply. Pronounced fa (falling tone). Leipian (Categorized Dictionary): A screen used by archers.