Zi Collection, Page Position: Lower Radical: Strength (lì) The character 勉; Kangxi radical strokes: 9; Page 147, entry 37 From Tang Rhyme (Tángyùn) and other classical rhyme dictionaries, pronounced miǎn. In Explaining and Analyzing Characters (Shuōwén Jiězì): "To strengthen." It is formed with the Strength (lì) radical and miǎn as the phonetic component. In Guangyun (Guǎngyùn): "To encourage, to exhort." In Zengyun (Zēngyùn): "To be diligent." In the Book of Rites (Lǐjì), "Biaoji" chapter: "To cause people to be encouraged and exhorted, and to act upon their promises out of shame." Also used interchangeably with the character miǎn. In The Book of Han (Hànshū), "Biography of Xue Xuan": "Xue Xuan then dispatched documents to comfort and encourage them." Also, in "Biography of Gu Yong": "To strive with sorrow and renounce pleasures." Annotation: According to Shi Gu (Shī Gǔ), mǐn miǎn (闵免) means to make strenuous efforts (黾勉).