Mao Collection, Middle Volume. Radical: Hand (shǒu). Kangxi strokes: 12. Page 436, Entry 14. Pronounced sǎo. To discard or to clear away. Book of Odes (Shijing): To sprinkle and sweep the courtyard. Also refers to a nao sao, a type of hairstyle. Records of Three Dreams (Sanmeng ji): The nao sao hairstyle is similar to the panya or the duoma styles. Tang poetry says: Still combing the nao sao to imitate palace makeup. Also pronounced zào. The meaning is the same. Analects (Lunyu): One should be capable of sprinkling, sweeping, responding, advancing, and retreating, and that is sufficient. Originally written as the character with the earth radical. Also interchangeable with the character with the horse radical. See the Earth radical and the Horse radical for detailed distinctions.