TOP |
Introduction | |
The Reflexive Pronouns | |
---|
Reflexive Verbs? | |
---|
'Zelf' as 'Yourself, Oneself' | |
'Eigen' = 'Own' | |
---|
Reciprocal Verbs, 'elkaar' and 'samen' |
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zich wassen 2 'to wash yourself, oneself'
zich wassen | to wash yourself, oneself | |
ik was me | I wash myself | |
ik waste me | I washed myself | |
ik heb me gewassen | I have washed myself | |
2 |
We hadden ons goed gewassen 2 We had washed ourselves well
zich verdedigen 2 3 to defend oneself
Hij heeft zich goed verdedigd He [has] defended himself well See also verdedigen (without 'zich') below
Nominative English / Dutch |
Reflexive Pronoun |
|
---|---|---|
I | ik | me
mezelf | singular you | jij / je | je
jezelf |
he | hij |
zich
zichzelf |
she | zij / ze |
zich
zichzelf |
we | wij / we |
ons
onszelf |
plural you | jullie |
je
jezelf |
they | zij / ze |
zich
zichzelf |
polite you | U |
zich
zichzelf Uzelf 2 |
Ik heb geen moment voor mezelf 2 I [have no moment] don't have a moment to myself Hoe weinig tijd er is voor mezelf 2 How little time there is to myself Heb Uw naaste lief als Uzelf 2 Love your neighbor like yourself Mezelf kennende ... 2 Knowing myself ... (my weaknesses)
zichzelf zien 2 3 'to see oneself'
Ik heb mezelf gezien 2 I have seen myself Ik heb mezelf op TV gezien 2 3 I have seen myself on television Zie je jezelf dat doen? 2 [Do you see yourself doing that?] Can you imagine doing that?
The verbs in the examples above have the same subject and object, but it's not necessarily so, they can have other objects and still have the same meaning, like in the sentences below:
Ik was de hond 2 I'm washing the dog - theoretically the Dutch line could also mean 'I was the dog' (in a play or a dream) Ik was de ramen 2 I'm washing the windows
Ik zag de sterren
I saw the stars
Heb je haar gezicht gezien?
2
Have you seen her face?
Ik heb hem in geen jaren gezien
2
[I have seen him in no years]
- I haven't seen him in years
verdedigen
to defend
Ze verdedigde haar proefschrift
She defended her thesis
Ik verdedig mijn standpunt
2
I'm defending my viewpoint
Hij verdedigde zijn land
He was defending his country
Wij verdedigen ons land
2
We're defending our country
See also zich verdedigen above
another reflexive verb:
Hij hoefde zich niet te bewijzen.
He didn't have to prove himself.
Ze konden 't niet bewijzen
2
They couldn't prove it
overgeven
2
to throw up, to vomit
zich overgeven
2
to surrender
Ik moest overgeven
I had to throw up
Ik moest me overgeven
2
3
I had to surrender
As mentioned above, the verbs in this group either come with a reflexive pronoun or have a different meaning without the reflexive pronoun. These verbs can have another object than the reflexive pronoun - to me, the reflexive pronoun doesn't look like an object for these verbs (but I'm not a grammarian.)
Ik herinnerde me hem goed 2 I rememberered him well (I had a clear picture of him in my mind) But: Ik herinnerde hem aan z'n belofte 2 I reminded him [of? about? his promise] that he'd made a promise Ik herinnerde hem aan de afspraak I reminded him of the agreement, that there was an agreement
Ik herinner me 't niet.
2
I don't remember [it.]
Ik kan me 't niet herinneren.
2
(Ik kan 't me niet herinneren.
)
I [can't] don't remember [it.]
Nou herinner ik 't me weer.
2
Now I remember [it] [again.]
But: Herinner me eraan
2
3
Remind me about it, remind me to ...
zich vergissen 2 3 to be mistaken
Ik kan me vergissen
2
3
4
'I [can] may be mistaken'
We hebben ons vergist
2
'We were mistaken'
Jullie hebben je in hem vergist
2
'You guys were mistaken about him'
(de) vergissing
'honest mistake'
Alles was een vergissing
[Everything was a mistake]
- It was one big mistake
zich neerleggen bij 2 3 4 to resign oneself to, acquiesce in
zich vervelen 2 to be bored
Verveel je je?
Are you bored? (singular informal)
But:
Verveel ik je?
2
3
Am I boring you? Do I bore you?
Verveelt U zich?
Are you bored? (polite)
Ik verveel me nooit
2
'I'm never bored'
Ik verveel me te pletter
2
3
'I'm bored stiff' ['crushed by boredom']
Heb je je erg verveeld?
2
'Were you very bored?'
Ik heb me niet verveeld
2
3
'I was not bored'
(de) verveling
2
boredom
uit verveling
2
3
out of boredom, because they were bored
'Boring' is saai
(saai / saaie
2
->>)
saaie Piet
'Boring Peter' - a bore, a boring person
Wat een saai verhaal!
2
3
4
Such a boring story!
Saaie boel is het hier
2
3
It's boring here. What a boring place this
is. There's nothing going on
eentonig
2
3
monotonous, unvarying
An opposite of 'saai' is
boeiend
2
3
'gripping, fascinating, interesting'
The verb boeien
2 literally
means to shackle, 'put in irons' but figuratively means something
like 'to hold, capture your attention.'
handboeien 'handcuffs'
Het boeide me niet
['It didn't shackle me, I wasn't gripped by it']
- It was not really interesting
een boeiend verhaal
2
an interesting, fascinating story
also: fascinerend
fascinating
gefascineerd
fascinated
opwindend
2
3
exciting
interessant
2
3
interesting
‑>>
But the adjective and adverb vervelend
(vervelend / vervelende
2)
is a little stronger than 'bored' - it's more like 'unpleasant, irritating'
't Blijft vervelend
2
[It remains unpleasant]
It's still annoying
Wat vervelend!
How unpleasant!
Wat vervelend nou!
2
3
How unpleasant! [now]
een vervelende man
2
an unpleasant (male) person
een vervelende situatie
2
an unpleasant situation
't Is een vervelend trekje
2
3
4
It's an unpleasant, annoying trait, habit
(characteristic or habitual behavior of a person)
also: onprettig
2
3
/ onplezierig
2
3
unpleasant
hinderlijk 2 is literally 'inconvenient, hampering, impeding, keeping you from doing something' but it usually has the milder meaning 'annoying, irritating'
English 'to feel' can (among other things) refer both to feelings 'inside' a person and to sensations felt on the skin. For the 'internal feelings' Dutch uses the reflexive verb zich voelen and for what's felt on the skin Dutch uses the 'regular' verb voelen 2
voelen | to feel | |
ik voel | I feel | |
ik voelde | I felt | |
ik heb gevoeld | I have felt | |
2 |
zich voelen | to feel ('inside') | |
ik voel me | I feel | |
ik voelde me | I felt | |
ik heb me gevoeld | I have felt | |
2 |
Hoe voel je je? 2 How are you feeling? - more Ik voel me zo vol. 2 [I feel so full] I've eaten too much. Ik voel me niet lekker I don't feel well - Medical Voel je je beter? 2 Are you feeling better? Ik had me nog nooit zo ziek gevoeld 2 3 I had never before felt that sick
But: Ik voelde de regen op m'n gezicht 2 I felt the rain on my face Voel hoe zacht de stof is! 2 3 Feel how soft the fabric is!
zich aanstellen 2 to behave in an exaggerated manner, usually childish, out of touch with reality Stel je niet aan! 2 Don't exaggerate, don't be childish (patronizing) Hij stelt zich aan 2 He's exaggerating, behaving like a child
voorstellen
2
to propose, submit a plan
zich voorstellen
2
1. to introduce oneself
2. to imagine
Mag ik me even voorstellen?
2
Allow me to introduce myself
Ik stelde me voor
2
1. I introduced myself
2. I imagined ...
Stel je voor ...
2
Imagine ... (with another intonation
it could also mean:
"Introduce yourself!")
Stel je voor dat er geen auto's zouden zijn!
2
Imagine that there would be no cars!
Stel je voor dat er geen auto's waren!
2
Imagine that there were no cars!
Ik kan me voorstellen dat ...
2
3
4
I can imagine that ...,
it's possible that ...
zich zorgen maken
2
to worry
Maak je geen zorgen over mij.
Don't worry about me.
Ik begon me zorgen te maken
2
3
I was starting to worry
zich afvragen
to wonder
Ik vraag me wel eens af ...
2
'Sometimes I wonder ...'
Ik vraag me af of ...
2
'I wonder if ...'
Ik vraag me af hoe 't komt
2
I wonder [how it comes] why it is,
what causes it
- more vragen
2 'to ask'
zich haasten
to hurry
Haast je als je de tijd hebt,
dan heb je de tijd als je haast hebt.
'Hurry when you have time,
then you'll have time when you're in a
hurry.'
‑>>
zich ontspannen
2
3
to relax
Ontspan je!
2
'Relax!'
Je moet je ontspannen
2
3
'You should relax!'
zich verbazen
2
to be surprised, amazed
't Verbaast me
2
3
I'm surprised
't Verbaast me niet
2
3
I'm not surprised
't Verbaast me niks
2
I am [zero] not surprised
Ik verbaas me over het zelfvertrouwen
2
I'm surprised at the self-confidence
Het zou me niet verbazen
2
'I would not be surprised'
verbazingwekkend
2
3
surprising, amazing
also: Ik sta nergens meer van te kijken
2
'Nothing surprises me anymore'
- Thank you, Johan!
zich ergeren
2
to be annoyed
Ik erger me dood
2
3
I'm deeply annoyed ['to death']
zich ergeren aan
2
3
4
to be annoyed by (at, with)
Ik erger me aan z'n houding
2
3
4
I'm annoyed by his attitude
Ik erger me aan de buren
2
3
4
I'm annoyed by the neighbors
zich vermaken 2 to be entertained, to enjoy yourself We hebben ons prima vermaakt 2 3 We [very well] really enjoyed ourselves
zich omkleden
to change (clothes)
Ga je je omkleden?
2
Are you going to change? (clothes)
zich bemoeien met to meddle with, getting involved with something where you're not wanted Je moet je d'r niet mee bemoeien 2 You shouldn't meddle, stay away from it Bemoei je d'r niet mee Don't get involved with it, go away!
zich verslapen to oversleep (not get up in time) Ik had me verslapen I had overslept
omdraaien
2
3
to turn around
zich omdraaien
2
3
4
to turn around (when standing up) // to turn over
(when lying down, like in bed)
Hij draaide zich om en liep
weg
2
3
He turned around and walked away
Draai je nou niet nog een keer
om
2
3
[Now don't turn over (in bed) another time]
- Get up!
beheersen
2
to control, rule, govern
zich beheersen
2
3
'to control yourself, have a grip on your
emotions'
Beheers je!
2
Get a grip on yourself, behave!
- Flemish has the to Dutchmen funny phrase:
'Herpak U!'
2
Ik kan me niet beheersen
2
I can't control myself
(I'm doing stupid things)
Hij wist zich te beheersen
2
3
4
He was able to control himself,
he kept his temper (he didn't become emotional, he did not react in
anger)
(de) zelfbeheersing
2
[self-control] grip on yourself
'beheersen'
2
by itself means 'to rule, govern' or 'have control over'
(de) beheerder
2
manager, administrator, 'super'
bewegen
2
to move
zich bewegen
2
to move (your body)
Beweeg je niet!
Don't move! Freeze!
De minuutwijzer beweegt bijna niet meer
slow
The minute hand is barely moving anymore.
- more
branden
to burn
"Je zult branden in de hel"
'You'll burn in hell'
Ik heb water zien branden
2
I've seen water burn (I've seen something that's
impossible)
zich branden
2
3
'to burn oneself,' to get burned
Ik heb me gebrand
2
3
'I burned myself,' I got burned
Heb je je gebrand?
2
3
Did you burn yourself? Did you get burned?
Brand je niet!
2
3
Dont get burned! (Be careful)
'To brand,' burn a mark in the skin of an animal is
brandmerken
2
('burn a mark')
Van zich laten horen
2
3
['to let hear of yourself']
- to communicate, to be in touch - usually in the negative with:
'niet'
2
(not) or
'niks'
/ 'niets'
('nothing')
Hij laat niks van zich horen
2
He is not in touch
('We are not hearing from him')
Hij heeft niks van zich laten horen
2
He has not been in touch
('We have not heard from him')
Ze laten niet van zich horen
2
They are not in touch
('We are not hearing from them')
We hadden iets van ons moeten laten horen
2
3
We should have been in touch, we should have
contacted
zich schamen
2
3
to be ashamed
Je moest je schamen
2
You ought to, should be ashamed
of yourself
(de) schaamte
shame ‑>>
There is no simple Dutch verb for English 'to shame, make
someone feel ashamed'
zich gedragen 2 3 'to behave' | |||||
gedragen to behave |
- | gedroeg behaved |
- | gedragen behaved |
zich gedragen | to behave | |
ik gedraag me | I'm behaving | |
ik gedroeg me | I behaved | |
ik heb me gedragen | I have behaved | |
2 |
Maak 't jezelf gemakkelijk 2 3 [Make it easy for yourself] - Do it in an easy way, don't make it too complicated Maak 't je gemakkelijk 2 3 Make yourself comfortable (relax etc.)
in zichzelf gekeerd 2 introvert op zichzelf 'by itself, in itself' - of a person this means 'by yourself,' alone, without company or help, but for words it means without context, and otherwise it means without accompanying circumstances, without 'baggage'
Doe het zelf Do-it-yourself Hij doet alles zelf 2 3 He does everything himself, by himself Je moet het zelf doen 2 3 You have to do it yourself Ik kan het niet voor je doen 2 3 4 5 I can't do it for you
Je hebt 't zelf in de hand
2
3
[You have it in your hand yourself]
- It's in your own hands (You are in control of it)
Ik heb 't zelf bedacht
2
3
I thought of it myself, I thought it up myself
(original thinking)
Al zeg ik 't zelf
2
3
[Even if I say so myself]
- If I may say so
Geloof je het zelf?
2
Do you believe [it] so yourself? (What the
person is saying is unbelievable, can't be true)
"Je moet het zelf weten"
2
3
literally: 'you must know it yourself'
- said when you
tell someone about possible outcomes, give options:
"But is is your choice, your decision." It indicates that
the speaker expects the advice will be ignored
Ik kan er helaas niet zelf bij zijn
Unfortunately, I cannot be there
myself
The phrases 'zelf niet' and 'zelf geen' state that the
person referred to is an exception in the group
Ik speel zelf geen piano
2
I don't play the piano myself (but all my
friends and/or family do)
Heb je zelf geen kinderen?
2
3
Don't you have children yourself?
Ik ben zelf niet van adel
2
I am not of the nobility myself
vanzelf
2
by itself, 'automatically'
vanzelfsprekend
[speaking by itself] - self-evident,
obvious, 'of course'
Het wijst zich vanzelf
2
It will be obvious, you'll quickly see how
(No need for instructions or a manual)
Als 't niet vanzelf overgaat,
ga ik ermee naar de dokter
If it doesn't go away by itself,
I'll go see a doctor about it
automatisch
/ automatische
/ automatisch/automatische
automatic, automatically
(het) automatisme
automatism
(de) automaat
2
'machine, automatic,' // car with automatic
gear shifting
automatisch, zonder erover na te denken
2
3
4
automatically, without thinking
AU in these words is like French AU, Dutch
'long O'
- see and hear: ‑>>
zelfstandig 2 ['self-standing'] - independent also: onafhankelijk independent (de) onafhankelijkheid independence (de) zelfbeschikking 'self-determination,' autonomy (de) zelfbeheersing 2 [self-control] grip on yourself zelfverzekerd [sure of yourself] - self-confident, self-assured zeker van mezelf 2 3 [certain of myself] - self-confident, self-assured zeker van jezelf 2 [certain of yourself] - self-confident, self-assured (het) zelfvertrouwen 2 [self-trust] - self-confidence (de) zelfoverschatting 2 [self-overestimation] - an exaggerated sense of your own importance or abilities, 'inflated ego'
(de) zelfbediening 2 self-service (at the supermarket) zelfklevend 2 3 self-adhesive
(het) zelfstandig naamwoord
2
3
noun
‑>>
(de) zelfstandige zonder personeel
2
[independent without staff] -
self-employed person, often a consultant
‑>>
'zelfs'
is English 'even,'
referring to extreme
or unexpected situations
‑>>
hetzelfde
and dezelfde
are 'the same' ‑>>
'Eigen'
is 'belonging' or referring to the person mentioned: 'own, personal,'
sometimes 'private'
Ik heb 't met eigen ogen gezien
2
3
I've seen it with (my) own eyes
Zeg 't in je eigen woorden
2
Say it in your own words, use your own words
(use simple words, don't quote others or official sources)
Ga je met je eigen auto?
Will you be driving your own car?
Het is hun eigen geld
It's their own money
een eigen huis
2
a house of your own, a house that you own
't Is je eigen schuld
2
3
4
It's your own fault,
you yourself are to blame
‑>>
eigen schuld!
2
It's your own fault,
you only have yourself to blame
Baas in eigen buik
2
3
[Boss in] Master over (our) own belly -
women's reproductive rights slogan
(het) schot in eigen doel
[shot, score in] own goal
Elke dag heeft genoeg aan z'n eigen leed
Each day has enough suffering of its own
't Is voor je eigen bestwil
2
3
It's for your own benefit,
it's in your own best interest (You'll thank me later)
Ga je eigen weg
2
[Go your own way]
- Choose yourself what you want to do, make your own
choices
Ik heb er m'n eigen ideeën over
2
3
4
I have my own ideas about it (I do not agree
with the majority opinion)
Een koekje van eigen deeg
2
(saying)
['a cookie of (your) own dough']
'a taste of your own medicine'
- you yourself getting the bad treatment you thought up for (or already
meted out to) others
Een sigaar uit eigen doos
2
3
(saying)
['A cigar from your own box']
- Something is presented as a gift, but it turns out you have to
pay for it
op eigen benen staan
2
3
4
5
standing on your own [legs] feet, being independent -
note that Dutch has 'legs' instead of 'feet'
and doesn't have 'your'
eigen weg
private road (a sign)
(de) eigen bijdrage
2
['own contribution'] co-payment
(het) eigen risico
2
'own risk,' deductible
'Voorlezen'
2
is to read aloud from a text or a book, usually to an audience. The English
word is also 'to read.'
(het) eigendom
property, ownership, possession
'Eigendom is diefstal'
2
3
Property is theft (Proudhon)
also: (het) bezit
property, ownership, possession
(het) bezittelijk voornaamwoord
2
possessive pronoun
‑>>
Het bezit van de zaak is het eind van het
vermaak
2
3
'Ownership is the end of pleasure'
- probably meaning that
working towards goals is the interesting part; having reached goals
boredom may set in
(de) eigenaar
owner, proprietor
eigenwijs
2
self-willed, ~contrary
(de) eigenschap
2
3
characteristic feature, qualitiy
eigenschappen
2
qualities, properties, characteristics
‑>>
Gevoel van eigenwaarde
['feeling of own-worth'] 'self-esteem'
In the first part of the Middle Ages, some people
in Europe were lijfeigenen
2
- slightly better off than slaven
2
'slaves.' Originally they were probably captives
and vanquished enemies from the wars between tribes.
‑>>
(I don't know if
the word is related to the 'eigen' of this paragraph.)
'Eigenlijk'
2
is usually translated as 'actually.' Ideally it means 'real, true' or
'in essence' but it's often abused and given a
vague meaning
Het is eigenlijk al te laat
It is actually already too late
Ik denk eigenlijk van niet - foutje
I actually think it's not
- (I made) a [little] mistake
Ik weet 't eigenlijk niet
2
3
4
I actually don't know, I'm not sure
Ik heb eigenlijk geen tijd
2
3
4
5
I really have no time - I shouldn't
but I'll give you a minute
Waarom is dat eigenlijk?
2
3
4
Why is that (actually)?
There is a math term 'eigen value'
but its 'eigen'
2
3
is from German
(de) persoon
2
person, individual
(het) individu
2
individual, person
(de) tussenpersoon
2
person-in-between, go-between, intermediary
(het) tweepersoonsbed
[2-person bed] double bed,
Queen- or King-size
per persoon
2
3
4
per person, each, a head,
for each person
Ze ontmoetten elkaar op een feestje
2
3
They met [each other] at a party
onder elkaar
'among each other' - in trusted,
exclusive company
mannen onder elkaar
2
3
'men among each other' - men without women,
occasionally misbehaving
naast elkaar
2
3
next to each other
twee dagen achter elkaar
2
3
4
Two days [after each other] in a row
dicht op elkaar
2
3
close together (high density)
Ze praten langs elkaar heen
2
3
4
['They talk along each other']
- they dont't listen to each
other, they don't understand each other, they're not communicating -
'they talk at cross-purposes'
Alles grijpt in elkaar
2
['All things grip (into) each other']
- Everything is connected
bij elkaar
[near each other, with each other] - together
alles bij elkaar
2
3
[taking] everything together
uit elkaar
2
3
['out of each other'] - no longer together
Zijn Jan en Klazien uit elkaar?
2
3
Are Jan en Klazien not together anymore?
(is it over between them, is the relationship over?)
(de) samenloop van omstandigheden
[convergence, running into each other,
coming together of circumstances] - coincidence
aan beide kanten
2
3
'on both sides'
één van beide is dan gelogen
2
And then one of the two [has been lied] is a lie
't Is allebei goed
2
3
[It is ...] Both of them are good, OK with me
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Zelfs in de schaduw was het warm
Even in the shade it was hot
't Is toch overal hetzelfde
2
It's the same everywhere (anyway)
- there's no escaping
kaarten van dezelfde kleur
[cards of the same color] - playing cards of
the same suit
niet helemaal precies hetzelfde
2
3
[not entirely exactly the same] -
not completely identical
'Eigen' = 'Own'
Voorlezen uit eigen werk
2
Writers reading (aloud) from their own work
Hij las voor uit eigen werk
2
He read (aloud) from his own work
De vorige eigenaar had het huis roze laten verven
The previous owner
had had the house painted pink
Like English 'to have' Dutch commonly uses hebben
for 'to own, being the
owner of' ‑>>
Heb je een auto?
do you [own] have a car?
Heeft Jan een auto?
2
3
does John have a car?
Hij heeft geen auto
he doesn't have a car
Heeft U een fiets?
Do you have a bicycle? (polite
'you')
also: koppig
2
stubborn
tegendraads
2
3
contrary
eigenzinnig
['following your own sense']
- unconventional, self-willed, idiosyncratic, quirky, ~unorthodox,
~capricious?
eigengereid
self-willed, obstinate, headstrong
(note the two different E-pronunciations)
persoonlijk
(persoonlijke
2)
personal
persoonlijk voornaamwoord
personal pronoun
‑>>
2
(de) persoonlijkheid
2
3
personality, character
(de) persoonlijkheidsstoornis
2
3
personality disorder (a mental illness)
een sterke persoonlijkheid
2
3
a strong personality, character
een krachtige persoonlijkheid
2
3
a strong, forceful personality, character
Reciprocal Verbs,
'elkaar' and 'samen'
(For completeness' sake) There is another class of
verbs with a confusingly similar name:
wederkerige werkwoorden
2
('reciprocal verbs' - 'mutual'?) with the 'reciprocal pronoun'
elkaar
('each other') - slang: mekaar
- for instance: elkaar ontmoeten
2
3
('to meet [each other]' - a person)
(The past tense plural 'ontmoetten' sounds exactly the same as the
present tense plural 'ontmoeten' - when you hear the line, it may
also mean 'they meet ...'
like in describing a book or a movie)
Dan kunnen we elkaar eindelijk echt ontmoeten
2
Then we'll finally really meet [each other]
(face to face, 'in the flesh')
"We benne op de wereld om mekaar te hellepe niewaar?"
2
We're in this world to help each
other out isn't it?
Elkaar voor rotte vis uitmaken
2
3
4
(expression) 'Calling each other spoiled (rotten) fish' - mutual insulting
samen
together (de) samenwerking
cooperation, collaboration (de) samenhang
2
connectedness, coherence, connection,
relationship/i>
(de) samenleving
2
(human) society (de) samenstelling
2
composition, make-up
(de) samentrekking
2
contraction (words) (de) wee
plural: weeën
contraction (birth) (de) samenvatting
2
3
summary, abstract, synopsis
(de) samenzwering
2
3
conspiracy
ze deden alles samen
they did everything together
Toch konden ze goed samenwerken
Still, they were able to work
together well
Samen uit, samen thuis
[Leaving together, going home together]
- 'We're in this together'
beide
2
both allebei
2
3
both, both of them
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'Thou shalt not steal'