You Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Bitter (xīn) Kangxi strokes: 16 Page 1251, Entry 18 Collected Rhymes (Jiyun) and Rhyme Assembly (Yunhui) cite the pronunciation as pi yan; Correct Rhymes (Zhengyun) cites the pronunciation as bei yan; all pronounced bian (falling tone). Shuowen Jiezi: To exert effort. Collected Rhymes (Jiyun): To prepare or provide. Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), Biography of Xiang Yu: Xiang Liang often served as the primary coordinator. Book of Han (Hanshu), Biography of Han Xin: The more, the better. Also used interchangeably with the character pronounced bian (falling tone). Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), Winter Official, Artificers Record: To categorize the implements of the people. Commentary: Bian here means to provide or prepare.