You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) Kangxi Strokes: 15 Page 1167, Entry 11 According to Tang Rhyme (Tangyun), Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), and Rhyme Compendium (Yunhui), the pronunciation is tan (rising tone). According to Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun), the pronunciation is tan (rising tone). According to Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), it means to speak. Xu says, to talk is to speak in a harmonious and pleasant manner. According to Broad Rhymes (Guangyun), it refers to conversation or discussion. Book of Gongyang (Gongyang Zhuan), second year of Duke Min: The people of Lu still consider it a beautiful story to this day. Book of Rites (Liji), Conduct of Scholars: Speech and conversation are the refinement of benevolence. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biographies of the Jesters: His conversational remarks were subtle and hit the mark. Book of Jin (Jinshu), Biography of Ruan Xiu: Wang Yan was the master of discourse at that time. Also, according to Jade Chapters (Yupian), it means to tease or joke. Book of Odes (Shijing), Lesser Odes of the Kingdom: I dare not joke or talk idly. Also known as hand talk. Continued Records of Natural Things (Xu Bowuzhi): Wang Zhonglang considered the game of Go as a sitting seclusion, and some also refer to it as hand talk. Also the name of a county. Book of Southern Qi (Nanqishu), Treatise on Prefectures and Commanderies: Tan County was under the jurisdiction of Shikan Commandery in Yizhou. Also the name of a barbarian prefecture. Old Book of Tang (Tangshu), Treatise on Geography: There was Tan Prefecture in the Lingnan Circuit. Also a surname. Records of Shu (Shulu): During the Han dynasty, there was a General of the East named Tan Ba. Also, according to Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun), it is also written in the variant form tan. See the note under the character tan. Also, according to Minor Supplements to the Rhyme Compendium (Yunhui Xiaobu), it rhymes with the sound tang (level tone). Urgent Learning Chapter (Jijiuzhang): Cao Fugui, Li Yinsang. Xiao Pengzu, Qu Zongtan.