Chou Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Earth (tǔ) Yu Kangxi stroke count: 11 Page 232, Entry 07 According to the Broad Rhymes (Guangyun), Collection of Rhymes (Jiyun), and Rhyme Meeting (Yunhui), the pronunciation is yu. It refers to fertile soil. Because it is capable of growing all things, it is composed of the characters for nourish and earth.