Si Collection, Upper Volume Radical: Water (shuǐ) 沼 Kangxi stroke count: 9 Page 614, Entry 09 Pronounced zhǎo (rising tone). According to Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen), it refers to a pond. Another interpretation states that a round pond is called a chi, while a curved one is called a zhao. From the Book of Odes (Shijing), in the chapter Zhao Nan: By the pond, by the islet. Also pronounced zhào (falling tone). The meaning is the same.