You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) Character: Chao Kangxi Stroke Count: 19 Page 1179, Entry 18 Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Rhyme Meetings (Yunhui), and Orthodox Rhymes (Zhengyun) state that the pronunciation is chao (level tone). It is the same as the character for ridicule. It means to tease or joke. History of the Former Han (Qian Han Shu), Biography of Yang Xiong: There was a person who mocked Yang Xiong for favoring the color white, and Yang Xiong provided an explanation for this, which he called An Explanation of Ridicule (Jiechao). Book of Tang (Tangshu), Biography of Wu Pingyi: The man named Ying was humorous and quick-witted, and the Emperor issued an imperial edict for the scholars to tease him. Additionally, Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) states it is the same as the character for chirp or tease (zhou). History of the Former Han (Qian Han Shu), Biography of Dongfang Shuo: Dongfang Shuo, along with Mei Gao and Guo Sheren, were all at the side of the Emperor, merely speaking humorous and joking words. Commentary by Shigu: The character for chirp or tease (zhou) is identical to the character for ridicule (chao).