Mao Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Hand (shǒu) Entry: Xia Kangxi stroke count: 14 Page 448, Entry 13 Pronounced xia (rising tone). Shuowen (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters) states that xia means to rub. Sometimes also written in a variant form (guan). Additionally, pronounced jie (rising tone). Guangya (Expanded Etymological Dictionary) states that it means to scratch.