Mao Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Hand (shǒu) Kangxi strokes: 8 Page 418, Entry 16 Tang Rhymes (Tangyun) and Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) state the pronunciation is niu (rising tone), which is the same as the character for knot. The Collection of Awl-shaped Pendants (Peixi Ji) defines it as the action of turning the hand or twisting. Currently, in colloquial usage, it refers to grasping something with the hand. Another interpretation is to press. According to Broad Rhymes (Guangyun), the pronunciation is zhou (rising tone), which is the same as the character for elbow, with the same meaning. According to Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), the pronunciation is zhou (falling tone), meaning to rub or knead.