Chou Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Earth (tǔ) Nian Kangxi strokes: 14 Page 230, Entry 15 According to the Book of Rhymes (Guangyun) and the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), it is pronounced dian (falling tone). According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), it means to sink. It cites the Zuo Commentary of the Spring and Autumn Annals (Chunqiu zhuan) as stating that the term dian may also be written as nian. Additionally, according to the Book of Rhymes (Guangyun), it is pronounced nie (entering tone). According to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and the Rhyme Collection (Yunhui), it is pronounced she (entering tone). It means to increase. It also means to sink.