You Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Speech (yán) Kangxi Strokes: 16 Page 1173, Entry 12 Pronounced wei (falling tone). Explanatory Dictionary (Shuowen): To respond. Xu (a scholar) states: To say "wei" is to respond. Expository Dictionary (Guangya): To explain. Combined Rhyme Dictionary (Guangyun): To tell, to speak. Expanded Rhyme Dictionary (Zengyun): To speak with someone. Book of Changes (Yijing), Hexagram Qian: What is meant by this? Commentary: This is a hypothetical question, hence the phrase "what is meant." Book of Odes (Shijing), Shao Nan: The many gentlemen who seek me, I wait until he speaks to me. Commentary: Simply by speaking to each other, the agreement can be settled. Zuo Commentary (Zuozhuan), Eighth Year of Duke Zhao: Why do you not speak to him? Also, according to the Combined Rhyme Dictionary: When a matter can be described, it is said to have "wei" (a definition); when something is inappropriate or defies naming, it is said to be "wu wei" (meaningless). Zhuangzi, Discourse on Making All Things Equal (Qiwulun): Now I have spoken, but I do not know if what I have said truly has meaning, or if it truly has no meaning. History of the Former Han (Qian Han Shu), Annals of Emperor Jing: Violating the law and committing theft, theft is utterly meaningless. Also, according to Correct Rhyme (Zhengyun): Referring to someone while not speaking directly to them is also called "wei." Examples include the Analects (Lunyu) stating "The Master spoke of Zijian" and "The Master spoke of Zichan." Referring to affairs while speaking is also called "wei," such as the Book of Odes, Shao Nan: "I speak of the dew on the path," and Lesser Odes (Xiaoya): "I speak of how high the heaven is." Referring to one's own words is also called "wei," such as in the Analects: "This is what is meant," or "Is this not what is meant?" Also, according to Correct Meaning (Zhengzitong): Citing antiquity to interpret a meaning is also called "wei." Book of Changes, Hexagram Lin: "The propriety of the great ruler is what is meant by 'acting in the center'." Record of Music (Yueji) in the Book of Rites (Liji): "The enlightened and sagely ones are what is meant by 'recording and creating'." Also, Er-ya (a dictionary), Interpretation of Ancient Terms: To be diligent. Book of Odes, Lesser Odes: My heart loves him; how can I not be diligent? Supplementary Commentary (Jian): "Wei" means diligent. It refers to the diligent longing for the gentleman. Also, Expository Dictionary: To employ. Jade Chapters (Yupian): Trust, to guide. Also a surname. Ten Thousand Surnames Record (Wanxing Tongpu): In the Song Dynasty, there was a man named Wei Zhun who passed the imperial examinations during the Taiping Xingguo period. Expository Dictionary: Originally written as the character composed of the radical for speech and the phonetic component. Research Notes: In the Record of Music in the Book of Rites, the original text says "sagely and enlightened." It has been corrected to "enlightened and sagely" to match the original text.