Shen Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Clothing (yī) Character: niao Kangxi strokes: 16 Page 1122, Entry 28 Pronounced niao (rising tone). According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it refers to using a silk ribbon to tie a horse. Additionally, according to the Classified Chapters (Leipian), it is part of the name of a fine horse, the yaoniao. Furthermore, according to the Collection of Rhymes (Yunhui), it refers to a type of gold, the niaoti. Also, according to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), pronounced rao (rising tone). The meaning is the same. Sometimes also written in a variant form.