Xu Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Rain (yǔ) Character: Wu Kangxi Strokes: 17 Page 1376, Entry 17 According to the Tang Dynasty Rhymes (Tangyun) and the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), the pronunciation is wu (falling tone). According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it is defined as: when terrestrial vapors rise, but the heavens do not respond in kind. The character is composed of the radical for rain and a phonetic component. The seal script variant is simplified as meng. Note: Xu Xuan stated that common modern usage writes it with the component meaning to strive. According to the Jade Chapters (Yupian), it is defined as: when celestial vapors descend, but terrestrial vapors do not respond in kind. Additionally, according to the Broad Rhymes (Guangyun), it is pronounced meng (level tone), and according to the Collected Rhymes (Jiyun), it is also pronounced meng (level tone). The meaning is the same. The Jade Chapters (Yupian) also writes it as meng. The Broad Rhymes (Guangyun) also writes it as meng. The Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) treats it as identical to the character for fog.