Wei Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Rice (mǐ) Yue Kangxi stroke count: 12 Page 908, Entry 33 Pronounced yue (falling tone). Er ya, Explanations of Ancient Words (Erya Shigu): Yue means to speak. Commentary: A particle used at the beginning of a statement. Shuowen Jiezi: A word of careful deliberation. Xu says: Whenever the word yue is used, it appears at the beginning of a statement or sentence. Because one is not yet ready to speak, one pauses the speech to deliberate carefully. As in the Book of Documents (Shujing), Chapter of Announcement to the Duke of Shao (Zhaogao), where it says, "Yue, on the third day, ding-si." One counts the days silently in the mind before speaking; the sound and air are relaxed and extended, thus it is formed from the characters for extension and assembly. Also in Er ya, Explanations of Ancient Words (Erya Shigu): It means at or in. Commentary: A particle used to conclude a cadence or as an exclamation. Also interchangeable with the word yue (to speak). Book of Documents (Shujing), Canon of Yao (Yaodian): Yue, if one examines the ancients, the Emperor Yao. Also interchangeable with the word yue (to exceed or go beyond). Book of Documents (Shujing), Chapter of Announcement to the Duke of Shao (Zhaogao): Only the Grand Guardian preceded the Duke of Zhou in surveying the site, and yue, arrived accordingly. Also a place name. Book of Han (Hanshu), Annals of Emperor Gao: Led the troops of Baiyue to assist the feudal lords in punishing the tyrannical Qin. Also in the Geographical Treatise (Dilizhi): The territory of Yue corresponds to the celestial fields of the Ox and the Girl constellations. Also means thick or generous. Guanzi, Chapter on the Five Elements (Wuxingpian): Heaven acts with yue and gentleness, so grasses and trees are nourished and grow. Commentary: Heaven is thick and compliant, not acting contrary to the seasonal energy. Shuowen Jiezi says: Yue is composed of the characters for extension and examination.