Chou Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Mouth (kǒu) Character: Kuài Kangxi stroke count: 16 Page 211, Entry 01 Pronounced kuài. According to the Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters), it refers to the throat. In the Book of Odes (Shijing), Xiaoya section, there is the phrase "kuài kuài its uprightness." The commentary explains that "kuài kuài" means "fast" or "spacious and bright." Another interpretation in the Shuowen Jiezi describes it as the appearance of gluttony. It is also used as a surname. The Guangyun (Broad Rhymes) records that in the Biographies of Filial Sons (Xiaozi Zhuan), there was a man named Kuai Shen who was once brought a pearl by a swan. According to the Jiyun (Collected Rhymes), it is also pronounced wài, referring to a small throat. According to the Jiyun, it is also pronounced guài. Used as a personal name, such as King Kuai of Yan. It is also pronounced kuài, used as a place name. Historical records state that the State of Wei defeated the State of Zhao at Kuai. This character is interchangeable with another, originally written for a river name as recorded in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Zhao Family annals, which notes "Wei defeated us at Kuai." The Jiyun writes it with the mouth radical, though the source is unknown. It is also pronounced in the entering tone, guō, referring to swelling or roughness, describing a faded complexion and rough skin. Wang Shuzhi explains this as a state of flux between fullness and deficiency. The Zhuangzi, Chapter on Yielding Kings (Rangwang), records: Zengzi resided in the State of Wei, wearing a tattered wadded robe without a lining, his face haggard and skin rough, with calluses on his hands and feet.