Chou Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Mouth (kǒu) Character: Xiao Kangxi stroke count: 15 Page 207, Entry 01 Pronounced xiao (level tone) According to the Explanation of Scripts (Shuowen), it means to fear. Book of Odes (Shijing), Odes of Bin: I am indeed fearful. Commentary: Fearful is the meaning of xiao xiao. In the Erya (Erya), an encyclopedia, it is written as a variant form (xiao).