Xu Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Food (shí) Kangxi Strokes: 15 Page 1419, Entry 09 Jade Chapters (Yupian) states this is an ancient form of the character for sweet (tian). For a detailed annotation, refer to the six-stroke section of the Sweet (gan) radical. Also, according to Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), Rhyme Meetings (Yunhui), and Orthodox Rhymes (Zhengyun), it is pronounced tian (third tone). Rhyme Meetings (Yunhui) defines this as to hook or to probe. A usage is found in Mencius (Mengzi): Therefore, he used words to probe him. Additionally, according to Rhyme Meetings (Yunhui) and Orthodox Rhymes (Zhengyun), it is pronounced tian (fourth tone). The meaning is the same.