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Glossary of Japanese Terms - Japanese Lookup
| Japanese Word |
Phonetic Pronunciation |
English Translation |
| age |
ah-gay |
upward |
| aikido |
i-key-do |
martial art: "the way of hamony" |
| anza |
anza |
informal sitting |
| arigato gozaimashita |
a-re-ga to go-ze-mash ta |
formal ‘thank you very much’ |
| arigato |
a-re-ga to |
informal ‘thank you’ |
| ashi |
ash-e |
Foot or step |
| ate |
ah-ta |
strike |
| barai |
bar-e |
sweep |
| benjo |
ben-jo |
bathroom |
| bo |
bo |
long staff, about 6 feet long |
| bogu |
bo-goo |
chest protector |
| bojitsu |
bo-jit-sue |
the art of the bo |
| boken |
bo-ken |
wooden sword |
| bokuto |
bo-kew-to |
wooden sword |
| boshi |
bo-she |
hat |
| bushido |
boo-she-do |
the ‘way of the warrior’ |
| chojo |
cho-jo |
senior in a dojo |
| chudan |
chew-don |
middle position |
| chui |
chewy |
warning penalty |
| daisho |
di-show |
traditional two sword set |
| dan |
Don, or dan |
blackbelt rank, literally "man" |
| do |
do |
way |
| do ita simasi te |
do eta simash ta |
you are welcome |
| dojo |
do-jo |
place to study the way, literally "way place" |
| dojo kun |
do-jo kun |
school principles |
| domo arigato |
do-mo a-re-ga to |
thank you very much |
| dozo |
do zo |
Please, or please come in |
| dozo osakini |
do zo o-sak-in-e |
please go before me |
| empi |
em-pe |
elbow |
| gaeshi |
ga-ishe |
turn upside down |
| gedan |
ga-don |
lower position |
| genki deska |
gen-ke deska |
‘I am fine’ |
| geri |
gere (garý) |
kick |
| gi |
ge |
martial arts uniform |
| gokyo |
go-que |
five fundamental teachings |
| gomen nassai |
go men na si |
‘I am sorry’ |
| goshinjitsu |
Go shin jit sue |
art of self defense |
| gyaku uchi |
Ga-que ooche |
reverse strike |
| hai |
hi |
yes |
| haishi |
hi-she |
back of hand |
| hajime |
ha-ji-ma |
begin |
| hajime mashite |
ha-ji-ma ma-she-ta |
How do you do? |
| hakama |
ha-ka-ma |
traditional leggings for aikido |
| handaken |
han da ken |
four finger knuckle |
| hansoko |
han so ko |
disqualification |
| hantai |
han ti |
call for decision in sparring |
| happiken |
hape ken |
name of kata: to use the elbow like a monkey in eight directions |
| hara |
hara |
center line or stomach |
| hasso |
has-so |
upright posture |
| hidari |
hi dar e |
left |
| hikiwake |
hi-ke-wa-ka |
draw, as in draw a sword |
| hineri |
hin-ar-e |
twist |
| hirate |
hir-at-a |
open hand |
| hita |
he-ta |
down |
| hiza geri |
heza gere |
knee kick |
| hoko kata |
hoko kata |
walking form |
| ima |
e-ma |
now, at once |
| isogi |
i-so-ge |
hurry up |
| iye |
e-a |
no |
| ippon |
i-pon |
full point |
| irashimaste |
ir ashe masta |
welcome |
| irimi |
ir-e-me |
bringing the opponent close |
| jigotai |
ji-go-ti |
defensive stance |
| jigohontai |
ji-go-hon- ti |
fundamental defensive stance |
| jikun |
ji-kun |
time, time’s up |
| jo |
jo |
short ( about 4 foot) staff or walking stick |
| joseki |
jo-sek-e |
upper place in dojo (right side of shoman) |
| ju |
ju |
gentle, or the number ten |
| judo |
Ju do |
martial art; "gentle way" |
| kai |
ki |
association |
| kaiso |
ki-so |
the founder of the style |
| kama |
kama |
sickle, a martial arts weapon |
| kamae |
kama |
guard |
| kamaete |
ko-mi-e-ta |
prepare to begin |
| karatedo |
kar-a-ta-do |
empty hands way |
| karateka |
kar-a-ta-ka |
a student of karatedo |
| kata |
kata |
form, shoulder |
| kata-juji-jime |
kata- ju-ge-jima |
cross arm choke |
| katana |
ka-ta-na |
Japanese long sword |
| keiko |
ke-ko |
practice |
| keirei |
ke-ra |
ceremonial bow |
| kekomi |
ka-ko-me |
thrusting kick |
| kendo |
ken-do |
martial art: "way of the sword" |
| kentsui |
kent-su-e |
hammer fist |
| ki |
ke |
inner energy, spirit |
| kiai |
Ke-i |
vocal expression of ki |
| kiotsuke |
ke-oat-su-ka |
attention |
| kohira ni |
ko-hir-a knee |
this way |
| kochira no kachi |
ko-chir-a no kache |
winner of the match |
| kodomo |
ko-do-mo |
children |
| kogeki |
ko-ga-ke |
offensive |
| kohai |
ko-hi |
lower kyu rank |
| koken |
ko-ken |
ridge hand |
| kokyu |
ko-que |
breathing |
| kon nichi wa |
ko neche wa |
good day |
| kote |
ko-ta |
forearm |
| kumbanwa |
kum-ban-wa |
greeting; "good evening" |
| kumite |
ku-me-ta |
multiple person prearranged fighting form |
| kuzushi |
ku-zu-she |
balance breaking |
| kyo |
koy-o |
principle |
| kyu |
que |
step or rank below black belt, literally "boy" |
| ma-ai |
mi-i |
proper distance |
| mae |
mi-a |
front |
| mae geri |
mi-a gere |
front kick |
| maede |
ma-da |
stop |
| makawara |
makawara |
striking board |
| masseki |
ma-se-ke |
left side of shoman; lower seat |
| mate |
mata |
wait |
| mawaru kata |
mawaru kata |
turning form |
| mawashi |
mawashe |
circular motion |
| mawashi geri |
mawashe gere |
roundhouse kick |
| men |
men |
head |
| migi |
mige |
right |
| migi mae mawaru |
mige mi-a mawaru |
right front turn |
| migi ushiro mawaru |
mige u-shear-u mawaru |
right back turn |
| mikazuki geri |
mika-zu-ke gere |
crescent kick |
| mizo ochi |
mizo oche |
solar plexus |
| moi ichi do |
moy-itch-e do |
"once again" |
| mokuso |
mo-ku-so |
meditate |
| morote |
mor ot |
double |
| morote neko ashi |
mor ot neko ash-e |
double cat step |
| mudansha |
mu-dan-sha |
ranks below black belt |
| nage |
na-ga |
throw |
| nage waza |
na-ga waza |
throwing techniques |
| naihanchin |
ni-han-chin |
sideways stance |
| naname |
na-na-ma |
angle |
| neko ashi |
neku ash-e |
cat step |
| nekozeken |
nekoo-ze-ken |
cat back wrist |
| Nihon |
ne-hon |
Japan (formal, archaic) |
| no |
no |
prefix meaning "of" |
| nukite |
ni-ku-ta |
spear hand |
| o genki deska |
o genke desk-a |
"are you fine?" |
| okake kudasai |
okaka kudasi |
have a seat |
| onegai shimasu |
o-negi shima-su |
"may I practice with you?" |
| obi |
o-be |
belt |
| oha yo |
o-hi-o |
‘good morning" |
| omedito gonzaimaste |
o-med-e-to go-zi-mas-ta |
congratulations |
| Osu |
oos, or os |
common greeting in karate: push ahead, yes, sir, never give up, a sign of respect, affirmation,
recognition, etc. |
| otagai ni rei |
o-tag-na ne ra |
bow to each other |
| oyasu minassai |
oy-yas-u min-a-si |
"good night" |
| randori |
ran-dor-e |
free exercise |
| rei |
ra |
bow |
| ritsurei |
rit-soar-ra |
standing bow |
| ryu |
ru |
school |
| sai |
sigh |
three pronged martial arts weapon |
| samurai |
sam-ur-i |
knight of medieval Japan |
| sayonara |
si-o-nara |
"good bye" |
| seiken |
sa-ken |
horizontal punch |
| seinen |
sa-nen |
students age 16 and above |
| seiretsu |
sa-ret-su |
"line up" |
| seito |
sa-to |
student |
| seiza |
sa-za |
formal sitting position |
| seizarei |
sa-za-ra |
sitting bow |
| sempai |
sem-pi |
senior student, higher rank |
| sensei |
sen-sa |
teacher |
| sensei ni rei |
sen-sa ne ra |
bow to the teacher |
| shiai |
she-i |
sparring match or contest |
| shihan |
she-han |
leader of club or style |
| shinai |
shin-i |
bamboo practice sword |
| shinzen |
shin-zen |
place of honor |
| shisei |
she-sa |
posture or stances |
| shizen hontai dachi |
shi-zen hun-ti dache |
fundamental natural stance |
| shizentai |
shi-zen-ti |
natural stance |
| Shodan-Dai |
sho-dan di |
next in line for black belt |
| shomen |
sho-men |
Front, another name for place of honor |
| shonen |
sho-nen |
students 12 - 15 years old |
| Shorinjiryu |
shore-in-ji-roo |
the way of the great northern Shaolin Temple; a synthesis of Okinawan and Japanese philosophies
and techniques which also reflects much of the Chinese influence on karate-do; a system which stresses rapid body movements,
mobility, with emphasis upon the use of kumite, kata, and armor; originated by Kori Hisataka |
| shotei |
sho- ti |
heel of palm |
| shuriken |
shur-ri-ken |
throwing stars |
| shuto |
sho-to |
knife hand |
| so deska |
so deska |
"is that so?", sometimes "ah, so deska" |
| sonomama |
so-no-ma-ma |
"Freeze!" |
| sorematte |
sor-a-ma-ta |
"That’s all"; end |
| soshi |
so-she |
push |
| sotomata |
so-to-ma-ta |
open or outer |
| sukoshi |
su-ko-she |
a little |
| sumi |
su-me |
corner |
| suwari |
su-war-e |
sitting |
| tai |
ti |
body |
| tai-sabaki |
ti-sa-bake |
body turning movement |
| tanshiki kumite |
tan-she-ke |
single technique kumites |
| tanto |
tan-to |
knife less than 12 inches long |
| tatami |
ta-ta-me |
Japanese straw floor mat |
| tate ken |
ta-ta ken |
vertical fist |
| te |
ta |
hand |
| tegatana |
teg-a-tana |
cutting edge of hand or forearm |
| tenkai |
ten-ki |
turning motion |
| tori |
tor-e |
attacker |
| tsuki |
zu-ke |
thrust |
| tsushin |
zu-shin |
concentrating mind |
| uchimate |
oo-che-ma-ta |
closed stance |
| ude |
oo-day |
arm; forearm |
| uke |
oo-ka |
defender |
| ukemi |
oo-kem-e |
breakfall |
| unsoko |
un-so-ko |
basic foot movements |
| uraken |
ur-a-ken |
back fist |
| ushiro |
oo-sher-o |
back, behind |
| waki |
wa-ke |
by the side of |
| wakizashi |
wa-ka-za-she |
short (companion) sword |
| waza ari |
waza are |
half point |
| yame |
ya-ma |
"Stop!" |
| yang |
yang |
Active, male universal principle |
| yin |
yin |
Passive, female universal principle |
| yoko |
yo-ko |
side |
| yonen |
yo-nen |
youngest students |
| yoshi |
yoshe |
"continue" |
| yudansha |
yu-dan-sha |
black belts |
| yudansha kai |
yu-dan-sha ki |
an association of black belts |
| yukkuri |
yu-kure |
slowly |
| yumi-ashi |
yu-me ash-e |
normal walking |
| zanchin |
zan-chin |
"ending mind"; perfect completion |
| zarei |
zar-e |
more formal kneeling bow |
| zenshin |
zen-chin |
"preparing mind" |
| zori |
zor-e |
Japanese sandals |
Glossary of Japanese Terms - English Lookup
| English Translation |
Phonetic Pronunciation |
Japanese Word |
| a little |
su-ko-she |
sukoshi |
| a student of karatedo |
kar-a-ta-ka |
karateka |
| Active, male universal principle |
yang |
yang |
| an association of black belts |
yu-dan-sha ki |
yudansha kai |
| angle |
na-na-ma |
naname |
| are you fine? |
o genke desk-a |
o genki deska |
| arm; forearm |
oo-day |
ude |
| art of self defense |
Go shin jit sue |
goshinjitsu |
| association |
ki |
kai |
| attacker |
tor-e |
tori |
| attention |
ke-oat-su-ka |
kiotsuke |
| back fist |
ur-a-ken |
uraken |
| back of hand |
hi-she |
haishi |
| back, behind |
oo-sher-o |
ushiro |
| balance breaking |
ku-zu-she |
kuzushi |
| bamboo practice sword |
shin-i |
shinai |
| basic foot movements |
un-so-ko |
unsoko |
| bathroom |
ben-jo |
benjo |
| begin |
ha-ji-ma |
hajime |
| belt |
o-be |
obi |
| black belts |
yu-dan-sha |
yudansha |
| blackbelt rank, literally "man" |
Don, or dan |
dan |
| body |
ti |
tai |
| body turning movement |
ti-sa-bake |
tai-sabaki |
| bow |
ra |
rei |
| bow to each other |
o-tag-na ne ra |
otagai ni rei |
| bow to the teacher |
sen-sa ne ra |
sensei ni rei |
| breakfall |
oo-kem-e |
ukemi |
| breathing |
ko-que |
kokyu |
| bringing the opponent close |
ir-e-me |
irimi |
| by the side of |
wa-ke |
waki |
| call for decision in sparring |
han ti |
hantai |
| cat back wrist |
nekoo-ze-ken |
nekozeken |
| cat step |
neku ash-e |
neko ashi |
| center line or stomach |
hara |
hara |
| ceremonial bow |
ke-ra |
keirei |
| chest protector |
bo-goo |
bogu |
| children |
ko-do-mo |
kodomo |
| circular motion |
mawashe |
mawashi |
| closed stance |
oo-che-ma-ta |
uchimate |
| common greeting in karate: push ahead, yes, sir, never give up, a sign of respect, affirmation,
recognition, etc. |
oos, or os |
Osu |
| concentrating mind |
zu-shin |
tsushin |
| congratulations |
o-med-e-to go-zi-mas-ta |
omedito gonzaimaste |
| continue |
yoshe |
yoshi |
| corner |
su-me |
sumi |
| crescent kick |
mika-zu-ke gere |
mikazuki geri |
| cross arm choke |
kata- ju-ge-jima |
kata-juji-jime |
| cutting edge of hand or forearm |
teg-a-tana |
tegatana |
| defender |
oo-ka |
uke |
| defensive stance |
ji-go-ti |
jigotai |
| disqualification |
han so ko |
hansoko |
| double |
mor ot |
morote |
| double cat step |
mor ot neko ash-e |
morote neko ashi |
| down |
he-ta |
hita |
| draw, as in draw a sword |
hi-ke-wa-ka |
hikiwake |
| elbow |
em-pe |
empi |
| empty hands way |
kar-a-ta-do |
karatedo |
| ending mind; perfect completion |
zan-chin |
zanchin |
| five fundamental teachings |
go-que |
gokyo |
| Foot or step |
ash-e |
ashi |
| forearm |
ko-ta |
kote |
| form, shoulder |
kata |
kata |
| formal ‘thank you very much’ |
a-re-ga to go-ze-mash ta |
arigato gozaimashita |
| formal sitting position |
sa-za |
seiza |
| four finger knuckle |
han da ken |
handaken |
| free exercise |
ran-dor-e |
randori |
| Freeze! |
so-no-ma-ma |
sonomama |
| front |
mi-a |
mae |
| front kick |
mi-a gere |
mae geri |
| Front, another name for place of honor |
sho-men |
shomen |
| full point |
i-pon |
ippon |
| fundamental defensive stance |
ji-go-hon- ti |
jigohontai |
| fundamental natural stance |
shi-zen hun-ti dache |
shizen hontai dachi |
| gentle, or the number ten |
ju |
ju |
| good bye |
si-o-nara |
sayonara |
| good day |
ko neche wa |
kon nichi wa |
| good morning |
o-hi-o |
oha yo |
| good night |
oy-yas-u min-a-si |
oyasu minassai |
| greeting; "good evening" |
kum-ban-wa |
kumbanwa |
| guard |
kama |
kamae |
| half point |
waza are |
waza ari |
| hammer fist |
kent-su-e |
kentsui |
| hand |
ta |
te |
| hat |
bo-she |
boshi |
| have a seat |
okaka kudasi |
okake kudasai |
| head |
men |
men |
| heel of palm |
sho- ti |
shotei |
| horizontal punch |
sa-ken |
seiken |
| How do you do? |
ha-ji-ma ma-she-ta |
hajime mashite |
| hurry up |
i-so-ge |
isogi |
| I am fine |
gen-ke deska |
genki deska |
| I am sorry |
go men na si |
gomen nassai |
| informal ‘thank you’ |
a-re-ga to |
arigato |
| informal sitting |
anza |
anza |
| inner energy, spirit |
ke |
ki |
| is that so?, sometimes ah, so deska |
so deska |
so deska |
| Japan (formal, archaic) |
ne-hon |
Nihon |
| Japanese long sword |
ka-ta-na |
katana |
| Japanese sandals |
zor-e |
zori |
| Japanese straw floor mat |
ta-ta-me |
tatami |
| kick |
gere (garý) |
geri |
| knee kick |
heza gere |
hiza geri |
| knife hand |
sho-to |
shuto |
| knife less than 12 inches long |
tan-to |
tanto |
| knight of medieval Japan |
sam-ur-i |
samurai |
| leader of club or style |
she-han |
shihan |
| left |
hi dar e |
hidari |
| left side of shoman; lower seat |
ma-se-ke |
masseki |
| line up |
sa-ret-su |
seiretsu |
| long staff, about 6 feet long |
bo |
bo |
| lower kyu rank |
ko-hi |
kohai |
| lower position |
ga-don |
gedan |
| martial art: "the way of hamony" |
i-key-do |
aikido |
| martial art: "way of the sword" |
ken-do |
kendo |
| martial art; "gentle way" |
Ju do |
judo |
| martial arts uniform |
ge |
gi |
| may I practice with you? |
o-negi shima-su |
onegai shimasu |
| meditate |
mo-ku-so |
mokuso |
| middle position |
chew-don |
chudan |
| more formal kneeling bow |
zar-e |
zarei |
| multiple person prearranged fighting form |
ku-me-ta |
kumite |
| name of kata: to use the elbow like a monkey in eight directions |
hape ken |
happiken |
| natural stance |
shi-zen-ti |
shizentai |
| next in line for black belt |
sho-dan di |
Shodan-Dai |
| no |
e-a |
iye |
| normal walking |
yu-me ash-e |
yumi-ashi |
| now, at once |
e-ma |
ima |
| offensive |
ko-ga-ke |
kogeki |
| once again |
moy-itch-e do |
moi ichi do |
| open hand |
hir-at-a |
hirate |
| open or outer |
so-to-ma-ta |
sotomata |
| Passive, female universal principle |
yin |
yin |
| place of honor |
shin-zen |
shinzen |
| place to study the way, literally "way place" |
do-jo |
dojo |
| please go before me |
do zo o-sak-in-e |
dozo osakini |
| Please, or please come in |
do zo |
dozo |
| posture or stances |
she-sa |
shisei |
| practice |
ke-ko |
keiko |
| prefix meaning "of" |
no |
no |
| prepare to begin |
ko-mi-e-ta |
kamaete |
| preparing mind |
zen-chin |
zenshin |
| principle |
koy-o |
kyo |
| proper distance |
mi-i |
ma-ai |
| push |
so-she |
soshi |
| ranks below black belt |
mu-dan-sha |
mudansha |
| reverse strike |
Ga-que ooche |
gyaku uchi |
| ridge hand |
ko-ken |
koken |
| right |
mige |
migi |
| right back turn |
mige u-shear-u mawaru |
migi ushiro mawaru |
| right front turn |
mige mi-a mawaru |
migi mae mawaru |
| roundhouse kick |
mawashe gere |
mawashi geri |
| school |
ru |
ryu |
| school principles |
do-jo kun |
dojo kun |
| senior in a dojo |
cho-jo |
chojo |
| senior student, higher rank |
sem-pi |
sempai |
| short ( about 4 foot) staff or walking stick |
jo |
jo |
| short (companion) sword |
wa-ka-za-she |
wakizashi |
| sickle, a martial arts weapon |
kama |
kama |
| side |
yo-ko |
yoko |
| sideways stance |
ni-han-chin |
naihanchin |
| single technique kumites |
tan-she-ke |
tanshiki kumite |
| sitting |
su-war-e |
suwari |
| sitting bow |
sa-za-ra |
seizarei |
| slowly |
yu-kure |
yukkuri |
| solar plexus |
mizo oche |
mizo ochi |
| sparring match or contest |
she-i |
shiai |
| spear hand |
ni-ku-ta |
nukite |
| standing bow |
rit-soar-ra |
ritsurei |
| step or rank below black belt, literally "boy" |
que |
kyu |
| stop |
ma-da |
maede |
| Stop! |
ya-ma |
yame |
| strike |
ah-ta |
ate |
| striking board |
makawara |
makawara |
| student |
sa-to |
seito |
| students 12 - 15 years old |
sho-nen |
shonen |
| students age 16 and above |
sa-nen |
seinen |
| sweep |
bar-e |
barai |
| teacher |
sen-sa |
sensei |
| thank you very much |
do-mo a-re-ga to |
domo arigato |
| That’s all; end |
sor-a-ma-ta |
sorematte |
| the ‘way of the warrior’ |
boo-she-do |
bushido |
| the art of the bo |
bo-jit-sue |
bojitsu |
| the founder of the style |
ki-so |
kaiso |
| the way of the great northern Shaolin Temple; a synthesis of Okinawan and Japanese philosophies
and techniques which also reflects much of the Chinese influence on karate-do; a system which stresses rapid body movements,
mobility, with emphasis upon the use of kumite, kata, and armor; originated by Kori Hisataka |
shore-in-ji-roo |
Shorinjiryu |
| this way |
ko-hir-a knee |
kohira ni |
| three pronged martial arts weapon |
sigh |
sai |
| throw |
na-ga |
nage |
| throwing stars |
shur-ri-ken |
shuriken |
| throwing techniques |
na-ga waza |
nage waza |
| thrust |
zu-ke |
tsuki |
| thrusting kick |
ka-ko-me |
kekomi |
| time, time’s up |
ji-kun |
jikun |
| traditional leggings for aikido |
ha-ka-ma |
hakama |
| traditional two sword set |
di-show |
daisho |
| turn upside down |
ga-ishe |
gaeshi |
| turning form |
mawaru kata |
mawaru kata |
| turning motion |
ten-ki |
tenkai |
| twist |
hin-ar-e |
hineri |
| upper place in dojo (right side of shoman) |
jo-sek-e |
joseki |
| upright posture |
has-so |
hasso |
| upward |
ah-gay |
age |
| vertical fist |
ta-ta ken |
tate ken |
| vocal expression of ki |
Ke-i |
kiai |
| wait |
mata |
mate |
| walking form |
hoko kata |
hoko kata |
| warning penalty |
chewy |
chui |
| way |
do |
do |
| welcome |
ir ashe masta |
irashimaste |
| winner of the match |
ko-chir-a no kache |
kochira no kachi |
| wooden sword |
bo-ken |
boken |
| wooden sword |
bo-kew-to |
bokuto |
| yes |
hi |
hai |
| you are welcome |
do eta simash ta |
do ita simasi te |
| youngest students |
yo-nen |
yonen |
Counting
| one |
ichi |
|
eleven |
ju-ichi |
|
twenty one |
ni-ju-ichi |
|
forty |
yon ju |
| two |
ni |
|
twelve |
ju-ni |
|
|
|
|
forty-four |
yonjushi |
| three |
san |
|
|
· |
|
|
· |
|
seventy |
nana ju |
| four |
ji |
|
|
· |
|
|
· |
|
seventy seven |
nana ju nana |
| five |
go |
|
|
· |
|
|
· |
|
one hundred |
hyaku |
| six |
roku |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| seven |
shichi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| eight |
hachi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| nine |
ku |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ten |
ju |
|
twenty |
ni-ju |
|
thirty |
san-ju |
|
|
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BIBLIOGRAPHY | | |
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