Mao Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Hand (shǒu) Kangxi stroke count: 23 Page 464, Entry 06 Pronounced tan. Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters): To open. Another definition is to spread out with the hands. A New Account of Tales of the World (Shishuo Xinyu): Wang Rong spread out books across the entire bed. Poetry of Du Fu: Spreading out coins in broad daylight amidst the high waves. Also defined as to be slow. Pronounced nan (falling tone): To press down. Pronounced nan (rising tone): Same meaning as above. Originally written as tan. Also synonymous with the character tian. Also written as the variant form. The original character was written with the radical for hand.