You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) Shan Kangxi Stroke Count: 10 Page 1148, Entry 02 Pronounced shan (falling tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Explanation of Simple and Compound Characters): To slander or defame. Formed from the radical for speech, with shan serving as the phonetic component. Yupian (Jade Chapters): Defamatory remarks. Book of Rites (Liji), Shaoyi section: A subordinate may offer counsel but must not slander. Analects (Lunyu): I detest those who occupy lower positions yet slander their superiors. Guanyinzi, Nine Medicines section: One must not slander those who have shown kindness to oneself. Yangzi Fayan (Model Sayings): Reckless flattery is the ruin of benevolence; reckless disparagement is the ruin of righteousness. To damage benevolence is to approach hypocrisy; to damage righteousness is to approach slander. Also pronounced jian. Also pronounced shan. The meaning remains the same. Also pronounced shan. Three Strategies of Huang Shigong (Sanlue Junchan): When peers slander one another, it is the root of chaos and disorder. Also pronounced shan. Ouyang Xiu, Reading Poetry: When will I be able to beg for this decaying body, perhaps then I might be spared from blame and censure. The saying about bookworms is truly correct; the words of Han Yu are not slander. Zhengzitong (Correction of Character Meanings): Also written in a variant form. Zihuibu (Supplement to the Collection of Characters): Incorrectly written in a variant form; this is erroneous.