Wei Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Beard (ér) Page 961, Entry 24 Pronounced ruan (falling tone). According to the Guangyun (Guangyun), Jiyun (Jiyun), and Yunhui (Yunhui), the pronunciation is ruan (falling tone). As stated in the Shuowen (Shuowen), it refers to something that is slightly larger at the front. As stated in the Yupian (Yupian), it means soft. As stated in the Leipian (Leipian), it means weak. According to the Jiyun (Jiyun), it is sometimes written in the variant form ruan. It is commonly written as ruan. As stated in the Strategies of the Warring States (Zhanguoce), Zheng and Wei are the weak states of Chu. As stated in the Book of Han (Hanshu), regarding the biography of Sima Qian, referring to a fragile and weak body. As stated in the Zhuangzi (Zhuangzi), in the chapter on Rummaging Through Chests, referring to crawling, weak insects. Furthermore, as stated in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), in the Treatise on the Celestial Offices, if it appears for three days and then slightly withdraws for two or three days before rising to prominence again, this is called ruan. Note: Ruan means to retreat without advancing.