Wei Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Ear (ěr). Kangxi stroke count: 11. Page 967, Entry 01. Pronounced liao. According to the Explanation of Writing (Shuowen), it means ringing in the ears. Also serves as a grammatical particle. In the Book of Odes (Shijing), it appears in the line regarding the fruit of the prickly ash tree; the commentary explains it as referring to the tree itself, while the sub-commentary identifies it as a grammatical particle. Also means makeshift or perfunctory. In the Book of Odes (Shijing), the commentary defines it as a wish, while the supplementary notes define it as a word indicating a brief or cursory action. In the Biography of Ruan Ji in the Book of Jin (Jinshu), it is used to suggest doing something for the time being. Also means to rely on or to depend. In the Biography of Zhang Er and Chen Yu in the History of the Former Han (Qianhan shu), it refers to the inability of fathers and sons to rely on one another. In the Dialects (Fangyan) by Yang Xiong, it refers to a situation where there is nothing to rely upon. In the Ode on the Capital of Wu (Wudu fu) by Zuo Si, it appears in a description of wandering freely. The commentary explains it as the appearance of being unconstrained. A place name. In the Zuo Tradition (Zuo zhuan), it mentions the area east of Liaoshe, which the commentary identifies as the western border of the state of Qi. In the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), it mentions the defeat of Zhang Chun at Liaocheng. A surname. According to the Comprehensive Customs (Fengsu tong), there was a figure named Liaocang who served as an attendant at the palace during the Han dynasty. Pronounced liu. A type of tree. Referenced in the Erya, though the commentary on the Erya states the pronunciation is liao, making the source of the alternate pronunciation unclear. In the Nine Laments (Jiu tan) of the Songs of Chu (Chuci), it appears in a passage describing ear ringing; here, it is pronounced liu. Alanliao, the name of a country in the Western Regions. The History of the Later Han (Houhan shu) notes that the state of Yancai changed its name to the Alanliao state. Also written as a variant form of the character pronounced liu. In the Geography Treatise of the History of the Former Han (Qianhan shu), it refers to the legendary horse Green Ear. Pronounced liao. A type of tree. The Explanation of Writing (Shuowen) gives this as the original form, though the Classified Anthology (Leipian) lists it as a variant, as is the form with the tree radical.