You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) Nong Kangxi stroke count: 20 Page 1183, Entry 08 According to the Sound Rhymes (Jiyun) and the Classified Lexicon (Leipian), it is pronounced nao. Nong nong refers to speaking excessively. As written in the Nine Longings (Jiusi) from the Songs of Chu (Chuci): The crowd of officials is clamorous (nong nong). The commentary states: Nong nong is similar to zong zong, meaning they all compete to be sycophantic. It is also used in names, such as Chongnong and Shinong, as seen in the History of Song (Songshi), Table of the Imperial Clan. Additionally, according to the Sound Rhymes (Jiyun), it is pronounced nong. It is synonymous with nong (muttering). It refers to angry speech, or according to one source, speech that is unclear.