Zi Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Line (bù) Page 150, Entry 05 The Jade Chapters (Yupian) records that this is the ancient form of the character for friend. Detailed annotations are provided in the section for this character under its primary stroke count. Explaining the Book of Characters (Shuowen Jiezi) interprets the character shape as two hands joined together. The commentary by Xu Kai states that this represents two hands yielding to and cooperating with one another. The character possesses the meaning of to assist or to bless, and thus the form incorporates the image of two hands. Pronounced you.