Wu Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Jade (yù) Bei Kangxi Strokes: 13 Page 735, Entry 08 Pronounced fei (rising tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Simple and Compound Characters): Five hundred pearls. Rhapsody on the Capital of Wu (Wudu Fu) by Zuo Si: Pearls like strings of beads hanging in disarray. Commentary: Bei means strung together. Ten strings of pearls make one bei. Zhang You says: The flowers of plants and trees not yet opened are clustered like pearls. Also pronounced pei (falling tone). Also pronounced bei (falling tone). Meaning same as above.