When we talk about 'provokere' at a C2 level, we're really looking at its more nuanced applications. It goes beyond simply 'provoking' in a negative sense. While it can definitely mean to deliberately annoy or instigate a conflict, it also extends to stirring someone into a particular action or feeling through a challenge or by highlighting a situation.
Consider how it might be used in a political context, where a statement is made to 'provokere en debat' – to provoke a debate, aiming to stimulate discussion rather than just anger. Or in art, where a piece might 'provokere tanke' – provoke thought, encouraging deeper reflection. It implies a conscious act designed to elicit a specific, often strong, reaction.
§ Understanding 'provokere'
The Danish verb 'provokere' is often translated as 'to provoke' in English. It means to stir someone into action or feeling, often in a way that causes a reaction, whether good or bad. It's a C1 level word, so you'll hear it in more complex conversations.
- DEFINITION
- To stir into action or feeling, often to elicit a strong reaction or response.
§ Examples of 'provokere' in sentences
Hans kommentarer var ment til at provokere en debat.
His comments were meant to provoke a debate.
Du skal ikke lade dig provokere af hendes ord.
You shouldn't let yourself be provoked by her words.
Filmen provokerede mange stærke følelser hos publikum.
The film provoked many strong emotions in the audience.
§ Similar words and when to use 'provokere' vs alternatives
While 'provokere' is clear, Danish has other words that can express similar ideas, but with different nuances. It's important to understand these differences to choose the right word.
Udfordre (to challenge): This word is often used when you want to encourage someone to do something difficult, or to test their abilities. It implies a more positive or constructive intent than 'provokere'. You challenge someone to a game, or challenge their opinion, but you might provoke them to anger.
Han elsker at udfordre sig selv med nye opgaver.
He loves to challenge himself with new tasks.
Irritere (to irritate): This word means to annoy or bother someone. While a provocation can lead to irritation, 'irritere' focuses on the feeling of annoyance rather than the act of stirring a reaction. It's a milder form of negative stimulation.
Hendes konstante brok irriterede ham.
Her constant complaining irritated him.
Ophidse (to excite/agitate): This word can mean to make someone excited or agitated, either positively or negatively. It's stronger than 'irritere' and can imply a loss of calm. You could be ophidset with excitement for a concert, or ophidset with anger. 'Provokere' can lead to someone being 'ophidset'.
Talerens ord ophidsede folkemængden.
The speaker's words agitated the crowd.
Fremkalde (to elicit/evoke): This word is often used in a more neutral or even formal context to describe bringing forth a reaction or memory. It doesn't carry the same negative connotation that 'provokere' often does, implying a more natural or intended outcome.
Billederne fremkaldte minder fra barndommen.
The pictures evoked childhood memories.
Use 'provokere' when you mean to intentionally stir up a reaction, often one that is strong, defiant, or negative. It's about instigating a response. While you can provoke a debate (a more neutral outcome), it more commonly implies pushing boundaries or causing a confrontation.
Le savais-tu ?
The word has remained largely unchanged in meaning across various European languages, including English ('provoke').
Guide de prononciation
- Misplacing the stress on the first syllable.
- Pronouncing the 'o' sounds too open, like in 'pot' instead of a more closed sound like in 'go'.
Exemples par niveau
Han prøver at provokere mig.
He tries to provoke me.
Du skal ikke provokere ham.
You should not provoke him.
Hvorfor provokerer du mig?
Why do you provoke me?
Hendes ord provokerede ham.
Her words provoked him.
Han provokerede en diskussion.
He provoked a discussion.
De provokerede hinanden.
They provoked each other.
Provokation er ikke godt.
Provocation is not good.
Stop med at provokere!
Stop provoking!
Han prøver altid at provokere mig.
He always tries to provoke me.
Present tense, 'at provokere' (to provoke).
Lad dig ikke provokere af ham.
Don't let yourself be provoked by him.
Imperative, 'lad' (let) + reflexive pronoun 'dig'.
Hendes kommentarer var ment til at provokere.
Her comments were meant to provoke.
Past tense, 'var ment til' (were meant to).
Det provokerer mig, når folk lyver.
It provokes me when people lie.
Present tense, 'når' (when) introduces a subordinate clause.
Han provokerede en diskussion med sin udtalelse.
He provoked a discussion with his statement.
Past tense, 'provokerede' (provoked).
Forsøg ikke at provokere bjørnen.
Don't try to provoke the bear.
Imperative, 'forsøg ikke at' (do not try to).
Hvad provokerer dig mest?
What provokes you the most?
Question word 'hvad' (what), superlative 'mest' (most).
Deres tavshed provokerede hende endnu mere.
Their silence provoked her even more.
Past tense, 'endnu mere' (even more).
Souvent confondu avec
This is a compound verb that explicitly means 'to provoke' in the sense of deliberately eliciting a reaction, often negative. It emphasizes the active intent behind the provocation.
This is the adjective form of 'udfordre', meaning 'challenging'. While related in concept, it describes something that presents a challenge, not the act of stirring a reaction.
This noun means 'an irritating factor' or 'source of irritation'. It highlights what causes annoyance, whereas 'provokere' describes the act of stirring a reaction, which may or may not be irritation.
Facile à confondre
Many English speakers might directly translate 'provoke' to mean 'to make someone angry' or 'to instigate a fight'. While it can have those connotations in Danish, it's also used more broadly to mean 'to stir into action or feeling', which isn't always negative.
In Danish, 'provokere' can simply mean to elicit a strong reaction or to stimulate something, not necessarily with hostile intent. It's often used in contexts like 'provokere en diskussion' (to provoke a discussion) or 'provokere en tanke' (to provoke a thought).
Hans spørgsmål provokerede en interessant debat. (His question provoked an interesting debate.)
This can be confused with 'provokere' because both can involve stimulating a response. However, 'udfordre' primarily means 'to challenge' in a competitive or demanding sense.
'Udfordre' is about posing a challenge, often to someone's abilities or beliefs, whereas 'provokere' is about eliciting a reaction or stirring something up more generally.
Læreren udfordrede eleverne til at tænke kritisk. (The teacher challenged the students to think critically.)
If 'provokere' is understood as 'to make angry', then 'irritere' (to irritate) might seem similar. However, 'irritere' focuses specifically on annoyance.
'Irritere' is about causing annoyance or mild anger. 'Provokere' is broader and can be positive or neutral in its connotation of stirring feeling or action.
Hans konstante brok irriterede mig. (His constant complaining irritated me.)
This verb means 'to evoke' or 'to call forth', which can overlap with the 'stir into action or feeling' aspect of 'provokere'.
'Fremkalde' often refers to bringing something abstract into existence or making it apparent, like memories or emotions. 'Provokere' implies a more active, sometimes confrontational, stimulation.
Billedet fremkaldte stærke minder fra barndommen. (The picture evoked strong memories from childhood.)
This word can mean 'to instigate' or 'to incite', which aligns with a more negative understanding of 'provokere'.
'Anstifte' almost always carries a negative connotation, implying the initiation of something bad or harmful, like a crime or rebellion. 'Provokere' can be neutral or even positive.
Han blev anklaget for at anstifte uroligheder. (He was accused of instigating unrest.)
Famille de mots
Noms
Verbes
Adjectifs
Comment l'utiliser
How to Use 'provokere'
'Provokere' is a versatile verb in Danish, much like 'to provoke' in English. It can refer to stirring someone to action, often negative, or to simply eliciting a reaction.
You can use it in situations where someone is intentionally trying to annoy, challenge, or incite another person. It's also used when something (not necessarily a person) causes a strong reaction or feeling.
Common constructions:
- Provokere nogen til at gøre noget: To provoke someone to do something.
- Provokere en reaktion: To provoke a reaction.
- At blive provokeret: To be provoked (passive voice).
Common Mistakes with 'provokere'
One common mistake is using 'provokere' when a gentler term like 'opmuntre' (to encourage) or 'inspirere' (to inspire) would be more appropriate. 'Provokere' carries a stronger, often negative or challenging, connotation.
Another error is confusing its usage with 'irritere' (to irritate). While provoking can lead to irritation, 'provokere' specifically means to elicit a response or action, not just to annoy. For example, you wouldn't typically say 'Hans støj provokerede mig' (His noise provoked me) unless the noise was intentionally made to elicit a response; 'Hans støj irriterede mig' (His noise irritated me) would be more natural.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Imagine a PROVOCATIVE speaker stirring a crowd into action. 'Provokere' sounds like 'provoke,' which means to stir up or incite.
Association visuelle
Picture a person poking a sleeping bear with a stick, trying to 'provokere' it into waking up and reacting.
Word Web
Défi
Try to use 'provokere' in a sentence about a situation where someone is intentionally trying to get a reaction from another person. For example, 'Han forsøgte at provokere hende til at reagere.' (He tried to provoke her into reacting.)
Origine du mot
From Latin 'provocare'
Sens originel : To call forth, challenge
Indo-EuropeanContexte culturel
Danes use 'provokere' in a very similar way to how English speakers use 'provoke.' It can refer to intentionally angering someone, challenging a situation, or even bringing about a reaction. While it can have negative connotations, it's also used neutrally for stimulating discussion or action.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsThink of the English word 'provoke.' It's a very close cognate, meaning to stir into action or feeling. So, 'at provokere' is 'to provoke.'
Not necessarily. While it often implies irritating someone, it can also mean to stimulate or challenge. For instance, 'Kunst kan provokere til debat' (Art can provoke debate).
Yes. You can say 'Farver kan provokere en reaktion' (Colors can provoke a reaction). The object is what is being stirred.
The past tense is 'provokerede.' For example, 'Han provokerede mig' (He provoked me).
The past participle is 'provokeret.' You'd use it in constructions like 'Jeg følte mig provokeret' (I felt provoked).
A common phrase is 'at provokere nogen' (to provoke someone). For example, 'Forsøg ikke at provokere ham' (Don't try to provoke him).
Yes, in some contexts, it can overlap with teasing, especially if the teasing is meant to get a reaction. However, 'at drille' is more directly 'to tease.'
It depends on the context. If you're talking about intentionally annoying someone, then yes, it can be seen as rude. If it's about stimulating thought or discussion, it's not rude at all.
The noun form is 'provokation' (provocation). For instance, 'Hans bemærkning var en ren provokation' (His remark was pure provocation).
It's pronounced roughly like 'pro-voh-KEH-ruh'. The stress is on the third syllable. You can find audio examples online for perfect pronunciation.
Teste-toi 78 questions
Write a short sentence about someone being provoked by a loud noise.
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Sample answer
Den høje støj provokerede ham.
Write a short sentence about a picture that provokes a strong feeling.
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Sample answer
Billedet provokerer en stærk følelse.
Write a short sentence about how a person might provoke another person to laugh.
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Sample answer
Han provokerer hende til at grine.
Hvad provokerer den første mand?
Read this passage:
En mand står i køen. En anden mand skubber til ham. Det provokerer den første mand.
Hvad provokerer den første mand?
Passagen siger 'En anden mand skubber til ham. Det provokerer den første mand.'
Passagen siger 'En anden mand skubber til ham. Det provokerer den første mand.'
Hvad provokerer hunden?
Read this passage:
Barnet græder højt. Lyden provokerer hunden. Hunden gøer.
Hvad provokerer hunden?
Passagen siger 'Lyden provokerer hunden.' og 'Barnet græder højt.'
Passagen siger 'Lyden provokerer hunden.' og 'Barnet græder højt.'
Hvad provokerer personen til at blive hjemme?
Read this passage:
Vejret er koldt og blæsende. Det provokerer mig til at blive hjemme. Jeg vil ikke ud.
Hvad provokerer personen til at blive hjemme?
Passagen siger 'Vejret er koldt og blæsende. Det provokerer mig til at blive hjemme.'
Passagen siger 'Vejret er koldt og blæsende. Det provokerer mig til at blive hjemme.'
This sentence means 'You must not provoke me.'
This sentence means 'I will not provoke her.'
This sentence means 'Why do you have to provoke him?'
Skriv en sætning, hvor du bruger verbet 'provokere' til at beskrive en situation, hvor en ven bevidst prøver at få dig til at reagere.
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Sample answer
Min ven prøvede at provokere mig med sjove kommentarer under middagen.
Forestil dig, at du ser en debat på TV. Skriv en sætning om, hvordan en politiker kan provokere sin modstander for at få en reaktion.
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Sample answer
Politikeren brugte skarpe spørgsmål for at provokere sin modstander under debatten.
Skriv en sætning om en situation, hvor et kunstværk eller en sang kan provokere folk til at tænke over et emne.
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Sample answer
Den nye sang provokerede mange til at tænke over samfundets problemer.
Hvad var personens hensigt med de spydige bemærkninger?
Read this passage:
På et møde var der en person, der hele tiden kom med spydige bemærkninger. Det var tydeligt, at personen ville provokere de andre til at miste fatningen og reagere vredt. Men de andre deltagere holdt hovedet koldt og lod sig ikke provokere.
Hvad var personens hensigt med de spydige bemærkninger?
Teksten siger, at personen ville 'provokere de andre til at miste fatningen og reagere vredt'.
Teksten siger, at personen ville 'provokere de andre til at miste fatningen og reagere vredt'.
Hvorfor ønskede kunstneren at provokere publikum?
Read this passage:
Den unge kunstner skabte et maleri, der var meget kontroversielt. Nogle mente, at det var genialt, mens andre fandt det stødende. Kunstneren indrømmede, at han ønskede at provokere publikum til at tænke over traditionelle normer.
Hvorfor ønskede kunstneren at provokere publikum?
Kunstneren indrømmede, at han ønskede at 'provokere publikum til at tænke over traditionelle normer'.
Kunstneren indrømmede, at han ønskede at 'provokere publikum til at tænke over traditionelle normer'.
Hvad var journalistens formål med det direkte spørgsmål?
Read this passage:
Under en pressekonference stillede journalisten et meget direkte spørgsmål til ministeren. Spørgsmålet var formuleret på en måde, der tydeligt var ment til at provokere ministeren til at afsløre mere information, end hun ellers ville have gjort.
Hvad var journalistens formål med det direkte spørgsmål?
Spørgsmålet var 'tydeligt ment til at provokere ministeren til at afsløre mere information'.
Spørgsmålet var 'tydeligt ment til at provokere ministeren til at afsløre mere information'.
The correct order is subject, verb, adjective, noun.
The correct order is subject, verb, 'at' (to), infinitive verb, object.
The correct order is subject, verb, negative adverb, indefinite article, noun.
Han prøvede at ___ mig til at reagere, men jeg forblev rolig.
The sentence implies an attempt to 'stir into action or feeling', which matches the meaning of 'provokere'.
Hendes pludselige bemærkning var designet til at ___ en diskussion.
The context suggests the remark was intended to 'stir up' or 'initiate' a discussion, which aligns with 'provokere'.
Du må ikke lade dig ___ af hans barnlige opførsel.
The sentence advises not to be 'stirred into action or feeling' by the childish behavior, making 'provokere' the correct choice.
Hans stædige tavshed begyndte at ___ mig.
The stubborn silence is causing a reaction, fitting the definition of 'provokere' (to stir into action or feeling).
Jeg vil ikke ___ ham unødigt; lad os bare gå forbi.
The speaker wants to avoid 'stirring into action' the other person unnecessarily, hence 'provokere' is the best fit.
Politikerens kontroversielle udtalelser var kun for at ___ pressen.
The politician's controversial statements were likely intended to 'stir into action or feeling' the press, which is what 'provokere' means.
This sentence means 'You must not provoke him.'
This sentence means 'His comment seemed to provoke the audience.'
This sentence means 'She tried to provoke a reaction.'
Hans aggressive adfærd plejer at ___ en stærk reaktion fra hans omgivelser.
To 'provoke' someone often means to 'udløse' (trigger/cause) a reaction from them. 'Forhindre' means prevent, 'berolige' means calm, and 'ignorere' means ignore.
Demonstrationen havde til formål at ___ offentlig debat om klimaforandringerne.
The demonstration aimed to 'provokere' (stir into action/feeling) public debate. 'Dæmpe' means dampen, 'afslutte' means end, and 'undertrykke' means suppress.
Kunstnerens kontroversielle værk var designet til at ___ beskueren til at tænke kritisk.
The controversial artwork was designed to 'provokere' (stir into action/feeling) the viewer to think critically. 'Behage' means please, 'undervise' means teach, and 'kede' means bore.
Hans kommentarer var tydeligvis ment til at ___ hende, men hun bevarede roen.
His comments were clearly meant to 'provokere' (stir into action/feeling) her, but she remained calm. 'Rose' means praise, 'trøste' means comfort, and 'opføre' means perform/behave.
En dyb uretfærdighed kan ofte ___ et ønske om forandring i samfundet.
A deep injustice can often 'provokere' (stir into action/feeling) a desire for change in society. 'Dæmpe' means dampen, 'neutralisere' means neutralize, and 'forbigå' means overlook.
Jeg ville ikke ___ en diskussion ved at nævne det følsomme emne.
You wouldn't want to 'provokere' (stir into action/feeling) a discussion by mentioning a sensitive topic. 'Undgå' means avoid, 'starte' means start, and 'afslutte' means end.
What kind of reaction do his comments usually provoke?
What should you not let yourself be by his behavior?
Is it a deliberate act to provoke us?
Read this aloud:
Jeg føler mig provokeret af hans ligegyldighed.
Focus: provokeret, ligegyldighed
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Hendes kunstværk var skabt for at provokere tanke og debat.
Focus: kunstværk, provokere, debat
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Kan du provokere ham til at handle?
Focus: provokere, handle
Tu as dit :
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This sentence means 'Provocative behavior can lead to conflict.' The adjective 'provokerende' describes 'adfærd' (behavior).
This sentence means 'He felt provoked by her comments.' 'Følte sig provokeret' is a common way to express feeling provoked.
This sentence means 'Her speech was designed to provoke debate.' Here, 'provokere' is used in the sense of stirring up discussion.
Hans aggressive adfærd syntes at ___ en reaktion fra publikum.
To 'provokere' means to stir into action or feeling. In this context, his aggressive behavior would stir a reaction.
Debatten havde til formål at ___ nye tanker og idéer blandt deltagerne.
The debate aimed to 'provokere' (stir up) new thoughts and ideas.
Kunstneren brugte stærke farver for at ___ en følelse af ubehag hos beskueren.
The artist used strong colors to 'provokere' (stir up) a feeling of unease.
Hendes udtalelser var designet til at ___ oppositionen til at respondere.
Her statements were designed to 'provokere' (stir) the opposition to respond.
Han følte sig nødsaget til at ___ en debat om emnet, selvom det var kontroversielt.
He felt compelled to 'provokere' (initiate/stir up) a debate, even if controversial.
Nogle gange er det nødvendigt at ___ en krise for at fremtvinge forandring.
Sometimes it's necessary to 'provokere' (instigate/stir up) a crisis to force change.
The speaker is talking about someone trying to get a reaction from an audience.
The speaker mentions statements meant to start a discussion.
The speaker advises not to be provoked by someone's behavior.
Read this aloud:
Kan du provokere en diskussion om emnet?
Focus: provokere
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Jeg blev provokeret til at svare.
Focus: provokeret
Tu as dit :
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Read this aloud:
Hvad ville du gøre for at provokere forandring?
Focus: forandring
Tu as dit :
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Du har observeret en uretfærdighed på din arbejdsplads. Skriv en kort e-mail til din chef, hvor du beskriver situationen og forklarer, hvordan den provokerer dig til at foreslå en løsning.
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Sample answer
Kære [Chefs navn], Jeg skriver for at gøre dig opmærksom på en situation, jeg har observeret vedrørende [specifik situation]. Jeg føler, at denne uretfærdighed provokerer mig til at foreslå, at vi overvejer [foreslåen løsning] for at forbedre situationen. Med venlig hilsen, [Dit navn]
Beskriv en situation, hvor du med vilje provokerede en debat for at få vigtige emner frem i lyset. Hvad var din motivation, og hvad blev resultatet?
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Sample answer
Jeg provokerede bevidst en debat under et møde for at tvinge diskussionen om de underliggende problemer frem. Min motivation var at sikre, at ingen vigtige emner blev overset. Resultatet var, at vi endelig fik talt åbent om svære spørgsmål og fandt en konstruktiv vej frem.
Forestil dig, at du er en kunstner, hvis arbejde ofte provokerer stærke reaktioner. Skriv et kort udkast til en kunstnerisk erklæring, der forklarer dit formål med at provokere.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
Mit kunstneriske arbejde stræber efter at provokere beskueren, ikke for at chokere, men for at stimulere refleksion og dialog. Jeg mener, at ægte kunst skal udfordre perceptioner og provokere nye tanker om samfund og eksistens. Min hensigt er at antænde en indre samtale, der rækker ud over det umiddelbare.
Hvilken type indhold spreder sig hurtigst ifølge teksten?
Read this passage:
I en moderne verden, hvor information er overvældende, kan det være svært at skelne mellem ægte og falske nyheder. Ofte er det indhold, der er designet til at provokere stærke følelser, der spreder sig hurtigst. Dette fænomen har store konsekvenser for den offentlige debat og borgernes evne til at træffe informerede beslutninger.
Hvilken type indhold spreder sig hurtigst ifølge teksten?
Teksten angiver direkte, at 'det indhold, der er designet til at provokere stærke følelser, der spreder sig hurtigst'.
Teksten angiver direkte, at 'det indhold, der er designet til at provokere stærke følelser, der spreder sig hurtigst'.
Hvad var filosofiens holdning til provokation i forbindelse med oplysning?
Read this passage:
Filosoffen mente, at sand oplysning sjældent kommer uden en vis grad af provokation. Han argumenterede for, at det er gennem udfordring af etablerede sandheder og tanker, at samfundet udvikler sig. At 'provokere' i denne kontekst handler om at stille ubehagelige spørgsmål, som kan føre til dybere indsigt, selvom det skaber ubehag i processen.
Hvad var filosofiens holdning til provokation i forbindelse med oplysning?
Teksten siger, at 'sand oplysning sjældent kommer uden en vis grad af provokation' og at 'det er gennem udfordring...at samfundet udvikler sig'.
Teksten siger, at 'sand oplysning sjældent kommer uden en vis grad af provokation' og at 'det er gennem udfordring...at samfundet udvikler sig'.
Hvordan kan spændingen i klimadebatten have en positiv effekt?
Read this passage:
Debatten om klimaforandringer kan ofte blive følelsesladet, da emnet i sig selv provokerer stærke holdninger. På den ene side er der dem, der insisterer på øjeblikkelig og drastisk handling, mens andre mener, at problemet er overdrevet. Denne polarisering gør det vanskeligt at finde fælles fodslag, men netop denne spænding kan også provokere til innovative løsninger.
Hvordan kan spændingen i klimadebatten have en positiv effekt?
Teksten konkluderer, at 'denne spænding kan også provokere til innovative løsninger'.
Teksten konkluderer, at 'denne spænding kan også provokere til innovative løsninger'.
This sentence means: 'It is not easy to provoke her behavior.' The correct order is 'Det er ikke let at provokere hendes opførsel.'
This sentence means: 'They intentionally wanted to provoke him with difficult questions.' The correct order is 'De ville bevidst provokere ham med svære spørgsmål.'
This sentence means: 'That assertion provoked many strong reactions.' The correct order is 'Den påstand provokerede mange stærke reaktioner.'
/ 78 correct
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