def utf2ucs(utf):
    if utf & 0x80:
        # multibyte
        buf = []
        while not(utf & 0x40):
            buf.append(utf & 0x3f)
            utf >>= 8
        buf.append(utf & (0x3f >> len(buf)))

        ucs = 0
        while buf != []:
            ucs <<= 6
            ucs += buf.pop()
    else:
        # ascii
        ucs = utf

    return unichr(ucs)