Mao Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Heart (xīn) Kangxi stroke count: 8 Page 378, Entry 21 Pronounced niàn. Book of Literary Expositor (Erya), Interpretation of Ancient Terms: To think of. Commentary: To think of constantly. Book of Definitions (Shiming): Nian means to adhere. It refers to the heart and mind feeling close and loving, clinging to something so that it cannot be forgotten. Book of Documents (Shujing), Counsels of the Great Yu: Keep thinking of this without forgetting. Also, in the Lesser Book of Literary Expositor (Xiao Erya), to not think is also called thinking. Book of Odes (Shijing), Greater Odes: You should think of your ancestors. Also a surname. Xian Nian was a governor in the Western Wei dynasty. Also, according to the Transferred Cognates and Ancient Sounds (Zhuanzhu guyin), pronounced niǔ. Book of Documents (Shujing), Great Plan: You should remember it. Also rhymes with the words qiu and shou. The Essence of the Six Writings (Liushu jingyun): A person should think of what they ought to think of, which is why the character is composed of the radical for heart and the component for now. Corrections of Errors (Zheng'e): The common variant is written as nian, which is incorrect. The original character was written with a downward stroke at the bottom.