Zi Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Person (rén). Character: Ci. Kangxi Stroke Count: 8. Page 101, Entry 02. Tang Rimes (Tangyun), Collected Rimes (Jiyun), Rhyme Assembly (Yunhui), and Correct Rimes (Zhengyun) indicate the fanqie pronunciation of qi and si, read as ci. The meaning is convenient. It also refers to cifei, also written as cifei, who were ancient swordsmen; in the Han Dynasty, this was used as the name of a military official title. Recruit agile flier archers — Book of Han (Qian Han Shu), Annals of Emperor Xuan. The commentary notes this describes lightness and agility as if flying. It also indicates being arranged side-by-side or in sequence. The thumb ring and arm-guard are already conveniently arranged — Book of Odes (Shijing). The commentary indicates this refers to convenience, meaning to shoot arrows in a specific sequence. Zheng's Commentary (Zheng Jian) states this refers to the fingers being arranged in order. It also means to help. Since a man has no brothers, why not help him? — Book of Odes. It also means to substitute, to take turns, or to involve. According to the Collected Rimes, it is interchangeable with the character ci. It is also written in a variant form pronounced ci. For details, refer to the annotations for the preceding character.