You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) Pian Kangxi strokes: 16 Page 1169, Entry 26 Pronounced pian. As defined in Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it refers to artful or clever speech. In the Book of Documents (Shangshu), under the section Qin Oath (Qinshi): Only those who are talkative and good at artful speech. In the Analects (Lunyu): Friends who are artful and sycophantic. In modern texts, written in a variant form (bian). Also, pronounced lian. Meaning is the same. Also, pronounced pian. As defined in Book of Categorized Characters (Leipian), it refers to argumentative and sycophantic speech. Also, pronounced shan (rising tone). Also, pronounced bian (rising tone). Also, pronounced bian (rising tone). Meaning is the same.