Chou Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Mouth (kǒu) Character: 喉 Kangxi Strokes: 12 Page 197, Entry 31 Pronounced hou (level tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Graphs and Analysis of Characters) defines this as the throat. Zuo Zhuan (Chronicle of Zuo), 11th year of Duke Wen: Fufu Zhongsheng used a dagger-axe to strike his throat. Also, in the Book of Odes (Shijing), it refers to those who convey and issue the commands of the sovereign, acting as the throat and tongue of the king. The commentary notes that throat and tongue refers to the Grand Minister (prime minister). Also, according to ancient phonology, the character for throat belongs to the yu rhyme and is pronounced hu. Jiyun (Collection of Rhymes) notes it is sometimes also written in a variant form (hou).