You Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Shell (bèi) Lai Kangxi strokes: 16 Page 1210, Entry 31 Ancient characters. According to Extensive Rhymes (Guangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Rhyme Meetings (Yunhui), and Orthodox Rhymes (Zhengyun), it is pronounced lai (falling tone). According to Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), it means to win. According to Classified Chapters (Leipian), another meaning is to rely upon. In the Book of Documents (Shujing), specifically the Counsels of the Great Yu (Da Yu Mo), it says, For ten thousand generations, they will forever rely upon this. The commentary explains this as the constant reliance and dependence for all generations. Also, in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), specifically the Annals of Gaozu, it says, My father always said that I am good for nothing. The commentary by Jin Zhuo states: Lai means profit. It means having no profit for the family. Alternatively, it is said that in the regions of the Yangtze and Huai rivers, they call children who are deceitful and crafty good for nothing. Also, according to Yang Xiong's Dialects (Fangyan), to rely is to be an enemy. Beyond Southern Chu, it is called lai, while in the states of Qin and Jin, it is called chou. The commentary notes that lai is also a name for something evil. Also, a surname. According to Comprehensive Customs (Fengsu Tong), there was a Governor of Jiaozhi named Lai Xian. According to the Sea of Jade (Yuhai), the Lai clan originated as a state name. In the Han dynasty, there was a Colonel named Lai Dan. Also, according to Rhyme Supplements (Yunbu), it rhymes with a sound pronounced li (falling tone). In Ban Gu's Response to the Guest's Ridicule (Da Bin Xi), it says, Fortune does not fill the eye, misfortune overflows the world, the wicked man will then repent of himself, how much more so should the auspicious gentleman rely on this. Note: According to Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), it is formed from the radical shell and the phonetic component la. The common form written as lai is incorrect.