A historian is a person who studies the past and tries to say what happened — and, though actually, to argue about what it meant, because historians do not only list dates. Some write books; some teach; some work in museums or with old papers.

A historian 歷史學家 is a person who studies the past 是研究過去的人, and tries to say what happened 試著說出發生了什麼事 — and, though actually 不過其實, to argue about what it meant 還會爭論那件事代表什麼意思, because historians do not only list dates 因為歷史學家不是只列日期而已。Some write books 有些人寫書; some teach 有些人教書; some work in museums or with old papers 有些人在博物館或古文件堆裡工作

We also stretch it in a friendly way: if you remember every tiny fact about a club or a family, people may call you the historian of that group. It is a respectful word.

We also stretch it in a friendly way 我們也會友善地把這個詞延伸使用: if you remember every tiny fact about a club or a family 如果你記得一個社團或家族裡每個小細節, people may call you the historian of that group 別人可能會叫你那個團體的歷史學家。It is a respectful word 這是個帶著敬意的詞

It does not mean an old person, and it does not mean someone who lived long ago. That mix-up is easy because historic means important in history, while a historian is the person doing the work.

It does not mean 這不代表 an old person 是個老人, and it does not mean 也不代表 someone who lived long ago 是很久以前活著的人。That mix-up is easy 這個誤會很容易發生 because historic means important in history 因為historic的意思是在歷史上很重要, while a historian is the person doing the work 而historian是做這件研究工作的人