Zi Collection, Page Position: Upper, Radical: Speech (yán), Page 10, Entry 01 Pronounced tao (level tone). The characters "da" and "lao" are used in fanqie to indicate pronunciation in the "Tang Yun" and "Ji Yun" dictionaries. The "Shuowen Jiezi" explains it as mutual conversation and interaction. Another interpretation refers to a young child who cannot yet speak clearly. Yet another interpretation refers to prayer and blessings. There is also the word "duo ni". See the annotation for the character "duo" for details. There is also the character "ni". See the annotation for that character for details. It is also used in personal names. For example, "Yu ni" and "Bi ni", found in the "Table of Imperial Relatives" in the "History of Song" (Songshi). In "Shuowen Jiezi", this character is sometimes written as "su". In "Ji Yun", it is sometimes written as "tao".