Chen Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Sun (rì) Zan Kangxi strokes: 15 Page 499, Entry 15 Pronounced zan (falling tone) According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), it means not for long. According to the Classified Chapters (Leipian), it means in a brief moment. In the Classic of History (Shujing), specifically the Geng of Pan section, it says: We encountered the wicked briefly. In the Zuo Tradition (Zuozhuan), during the thirty-third year of Duke Xi, it says: The woman was briefly exempted from the state. The commentary notes: Zan here is equivalent to suddenly. In the Text of the Five Classics (Wujing Wenzi), it is noted that the character is sometimes written in a variant form (zan) by mistake.