Hamas is a Palestinian political and armed group. The name is an Arabic short form of words meaning ‘Islamic Resistance Movement’, and the Arabic word itself also means something like ‘enthusiasm’ or ‘zeal’. In English news it is treated as a proper name, always with a capital H.

HamasHamas（哈瑪斯） is a Palestinian political and armed group是一個巴勒斯坦的政治暨武裝組織。The name is an Arabic short form of words meaning 'Islamic Resistance Movement'這個名字是阿拉伯文「伊斯蘭抵抗運動」幾個字的縮寫，and the Arabic word itself also means something like 'enthusiasm' or 'zeal'而這個阿拉伯字本身也有「熱忱」或「熱情」的意思。In English news it is treated as a proper name在英文新聞裡它被當作專有名詞，always with a capital H開頭字母H永遠大寫。

It is a hardline Islamic movement: it follows a strict reading of the religion in public life, and it has long opposed the peace deals that the PLO made with Israel.

It is a hardline Islamic movement它是一個強硬派的伊斯蘭運動組織：it follows a strict reading of the religion in public life在公共生活上採取嚴格的宗教詮釋，and it has long opposed the peace deals而且長期反對那些和平協議 that the PLO made with Israel也就是巴勒斯坦解放組織跟以色列簽的協議。

In 2006 it won more seats than the more moderate Fatah party in Palestinian parliamentary elections. In 2007, after Fatah would not hand over power, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip by force, and it has run Gaza since then.

In 20062006年 it won more seats than the more moderate Fatah party它贏得的席次比較溫和的法塔赫黨還多 in Palestinian parliamentary elections在巴勒斯坦的國會選舉裡。In 20072007年，after Fatah would not hand over power在法塔赫不肯交出政權之後，Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip by force哈瑪斯用武力控制了加薩走廊，and it has run Gaza since then從那之後就一直統治著加薩。

English speakers usually say it with a plain h at the start (HAH-mas). A few people use a harsher sound, closer to the Hebrew name, but that is not the usual English way.

English speakers usually say it with a plain h at the start英語使用者通常會用普通的h音開頭念它 (HAH-mas)（唸作HAH-mas）。A few people use a harsher sound少數人會用比較粗的音，closer to the Hebrew name比較接近希伯來文名字的發音，but that is not the usual English way但那不是一般英文的念法。

This is the language of news and politics, not of daily chat; when it comes up, people are talking about a real group and a long, bitter conflict, so it is worth being careful and exact.

This is the language of news and politics這是新聞和政治的用語，not of daily chat不是日常閒聊的用語；when it comes up當這個詞出現的時候，people are talking about a real group and a long, bitter conflict大家談的是一個真實存在的組織和一場漫長、痛苦的衝突，so it is worth being careful and exact所以值得謹慎、精確地使用。