Chen Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Weapon (shū) Kangxi Strokes: 15 Page 587, Entry 15 Pronounced ou (rising tone). Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Single-component Characters and Analyzing Compound Characters): To strike or beat an object. Xu says: To strike with a staff. Also, according to Jiyun (Compilation of Rhymes): Pronounced kou (level tone). Gongyang Zhuan (Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals), 12th year of Duke Huan: Allied at Oushe. Commentary: Ou is pronounced like qiu (level tone) or like qu (level tone). She is pronounced like yi (rising tone) or like chi (rising tone). Also, according to Jiyun (Compilation of Rhymes): Pronounced qu (level tone). Equivalent in sound and meaning to qu (to drive). Yunhui (Collection of Rhymes): Mr. Mao says the character for striking was originally written with the weapon radical, sometimes written with the tap radical. The tap radical means to tap. Contemporary texts write it as the current form, which is different from the character for vomit or spout (ou). The character for vomit or spout (ou) is formed with the yawn radical. Popular usage today writes the character for striking as the latter, which is incorrect.