You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) Character: Can Kangxi Stroke Count: 18 Page 1178, Entry 07 Tang Rhymes (Tangyun) and Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) state the pronunciation is can. According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), it means to anger one another. It is also used as a name; Meng Can is mentioned in the History of Song (Songshi), Table of the Imperial Clan. According to Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and Classified Dictionary (Leipian), the pronunciation is san. Can-tan refers to angry speech. According to Extensive Rhymes (Guangyun) and Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), the pronunciation is can (rising tone). The meaning is the same. Another definition is to watch or spy. According to Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and Classified Dictionary (Leipian), the pronunciation is chen (rising tone). It refers to speaking ill of someone behind their back.