You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) Page 1160, Entry 07 According to the Collection of Characters (Zihui), it is pronounced beng (rising tone), with a sound similar to the rising tone of beng. It means to narrate or explain. It also refers to echoing someone or speaking on behalf of another. It is also used as a personal name. History of Song (Songshi), Table of the Imperial Clan records an individual granted the title of Grand Master of Court Discussion, Bu Beng. The Correction of Characters (Zhengzitong) maintains that the correct form should be written as this character. The simplified form is this character. Other variations are incorrect. The character was originally constructed from the character meaning to combine or side-by-side (bing).