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In the Japanese language many names are constructed from common kanji characters with standard spelling and pronunciation. Some characters are special in that they only occur in names and have pronunciation which must be learned in each case, such as the female name Nozomi (希). Readings (pronunciations) of a character which are only found in Japanese names are known as nanori. Often (as in the previous example), the nanori of a kanji is related to its general meaning. Sometimes the nanori was once used as an actual reading of the character, but has fallen into disuse.
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