Someone who keeps following and watching another person over time in a way that frightens them. Not one accidental meeting — the point is that it goes on, and that it is aimed at one particular person.

Someone who keeps following and watching another person指長時間持續跟蹤、監視另一個人的人 over time長時間, in a way that frightens them讓對方感到害怕。Not one accidental meeting不是一次偶然的相遇 — the point is重點在於 that it goes on這件事會持續下去, and that it is aimed at one particular person而且是針對某一個特定的人。

A stalker may wait outside someone's home or workplace, follow them through the day, phone or message again and again, send unwanted gifts, or watch and contact them online. Very often the stalker is not a stranger: an ex-partner, a co-worker, someone the person once knew. In many countries, including Taiwan, this behaviour is a crime with its own law.

A stalker mayA stalker 可能會 wait outside someone's home or workplace在某人的家門口或工作地點外等候, follow them through the day整天跟著對方, phone or message again and again一直打電話或傳訊息, send unwanted gifts送不受歡迎的禮物, or watch and contact them online或是在網路上監視並聯絡對方。Very often the stalker is not a stranger這個跟蹤者通常不是陌生人: an ex-partner可能是前任伴侶, a co-worker同事, or someone the person once knew或是這個人曾經認識的人。In many countries在很多國家, including Taiwan包括台灣, this behaviour is a crime這種行為是犯罪 with its own law有專門的法律規範。

The word has an older, calmer use as well. A stalker can be a hunter who follows an animal slowly and quietly to get close — deer stalking is the usual example. That sense is not sinister at all; it is just the original meaning of 'move quietly toward'.

The word has an older, calmer use as well這個字還有一個比較古老、比較平和的用法。A stalker can be a hunterA stalker 可以指……的獵人 who follows an animal slowly and quietly to get close慢慢地、悄悄地跟蹤動物、想要靠近牠 — deer stalking is the usual exampledeer stalking（潛獵鹿隻）就是最常見的例子。That sense is not sinister at all這個意思一點也不邪惡; it is just它只是 the original meaning of 'move quietly toward'「悄悄靠近」這個原始意思而已。

And there is a joking modern use. Young people say 'I stalked his Instagram' or 'sorry, I'm such a stalker' about scrolling far back through someone's old photos. It means curious and slightly nosy, and it is said with a laugh. Be careful with the joke, though: the serious sense is genuinely serious, so tone and situation decide which one people hear.

And there is另外還有 a joking modern use一個開玩笑用的現代用法。Young people say年輕人會說 'I stalked his Instagram'「I stalked his Instagram（我去偷看他的IG）」 or or 'sorry, I'm such a stalker'「sorry, I'm such a stalker（抱歉，我真的很愛偷看）」 about scrolling far back through someone's old photos指的是把某人以前的照片往回翻很久很久。It means意思是 curious and slightly nosy好奇、有點愛打聽, and it is said with a laugh而且是帶著笑意說的。Be careful with the joke, though不過開玩笑要小心: the serious sense is genuinely serious那個嚴肅的意思是真的很嚴重, so tone and situation decide which one people hear所以語氣和情境會決定別人聽到的是哪一種意思。