You Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Bitter (xīn) Ci Kangxi stroke count: 15 Page 1251, Entry 15 Identical to the character for speech or words (ci). According to Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it signifies not accepting something. The form of the character is composed of bitter (xin) and receive (shou). When one accepts something, it results in hardship, therefore one should decline. It is also used interchangeably with the character for literary composition (ci). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Wei Zhi), Biography of Yang Xiu: Exquisitely fine literary composition.