Mao Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Hand (shǒu) Entry: La Kangxi strokes: 20 Page 462, Entry 32 Pronounced la. Refers to the act of pushing things aside with the hand. Also written in a variant form (la). Pronounced lai (rising tone). Refers to the act of abandoning or discarding. Pronounced lai. Means to destroy or tear. Pronounced lan. As explained in the Regionalisms (Fangyan), it means to destroy.