Yin Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Roof (bù) Entry: yi Kangxi strokes: 17 Page 292, Entry 24 Pronounced yi (falling tone). According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it refers to speaking while asleep. Xu Xuan states that people today use this to refer to words spoken during a dream. In the Heavenly Revolutions (Tianyun) chapter of the Zhuangzi, it is written: If one does not attain it, one will surely speak in one's sleep. Tang dynasty writer Yuan Jie wrote the Discourse on Sleep-talking (Yilun) to criticize officials for not speaking out on matters, as found in the Anthology of Literature (Wencui). Also pronounced ni (falling tone). The meaning is the same. It is also written in a variant form (yi).