An agitator is a person who tries to stir other people into action — a strike, a protest, a change in the law. The word is not a compliment.

An agitator is a person who tries to stir other people into action這個字是指試圖煽動別人去採取行動的人 —— a strike, a protest, a change in the law像是罷工、抗議或修改法律。The word is not a compliment這個字不是稱讚。

Bosses, officials, and unfriendly newspapers use it when they disapprove: they mean "this person is causing trouble on purpose," not "this person is brave." Someone on the same side would say activist, organiser, or campaigner instead.

Bosses, officials, and unfriendly newspapers use it when they disapprove老闆、官員和不友善的報紙在不認同某人時會用這個字: they mean "this person is causing trouble on purpose," not "this person is brave."他們的意思是「這個人是故意在製造麻煩」,而不是「這個人很勇敢」。Someone on the same side would say activist, organiser, or campaigner instead站在同一邊的人則會改說activist、organiser或campaigner。

Though actually, the same human being can be a hero at the union meeting and an agitator on the evening news; the word tells you how the speaker feels more than it tells you what the person did.

Though actually不過話說回來, the same human being can be a hero at the union meeting and an agitator on the evening news同一個人可以在工會會議上是英雄,在晚間新聞裡卻是agitator; the word tells you how the speaker feels more than it tells you what the person did這個字透露的是講話的人的感受,而不是這個人實際做了什麼。

It is a fairly formal, public-life word, more at home in news and history than in kitchen chat.

It is a fairly formal, public-life word這是一個相當正式、屬於公共事務的字, more at home in news and history than in kitchen chat比較常出現在新聞和歷史裡,而不是廚房裡的閒聊。