An actor — someone who acts in plays or films. It is a fancy, old-fashioned word, and that is the whole point of it.

An actor演員 — someone who acts in plays or films在戲劇或電影裡演戲的人 It is a fancy, old-fashioned word這是個文謅謅、老派的字 and that is the whole point of it而這正是這個字的重點所在

Nobody in normal conversation says "my brother is a thespian" the way they would say "my brother is an actor." It shows up in two places. First, in formal or literary writing — a theatre review, an award speech, a school drama club's name — where it sounds grand and respectful, and carries a hint of serious stage acting rather than film or TV.

the way they would say "my brother is an actor"像會說「我哥哥是個演員」那樣 Nobody in normal conversation says "my brother is a thespian"平常沒有人會說「我哥哥是個thespian」這種話 It shows up in two places這個字會出現在兩種地方 First第一 in formal or literary writing在正式或文學性的寫作裡 a theatre review, an award speech, a school drama club's name像劇評、頒獎典禮致詞、學校戲劇社的名字 it sounds grand and respectful聽起來氣派又帶敬意 and carries a hint of serious stage acting rather than film or TV而且帶有一點正經舞台表演而非電影電視演出的味道

Second, and more often these days, as a gentle joke. If a friend makes a big dramatic show of being tired, you might call them a thespian, meaning "look at you, performing." The joke works because the word is so much bigger than the moment.

Second第二 and more often these days而且現在更常見 as a gentle joke是當作溫和的玩笑話 If a friend makes a big dramatic show of being tired如果朋友誇張地做出一副很累的樣子 you might call them a thespian你可能就會叫他們thespian meaning "look at you, performing."意思是「看看你，在表演呢」 The joke works這個玩笑之所以成立 because the word is so much bigger than the moment是因為這個字比當下這件小事誇張太多了

The same word also works as an adjective, meaning "to do with acting or the theatre" — thespian talent, thespian ambitions — though this is rarer and sounds even more bookish. When it is written with a capital T (Thespian), it usually points back to the Greek origin or to a named drama society.

The same word also works as an adjective這個字也可以當形容詞用 meaning "to do with acting or the theatre"意思是「跟表演或戲劇有關的」 thespian talent, thespian ambitions像thespian talent（表演天分）、thespian ambitions（表演的抱負） though this is rarer and sounds even more bookish不過這種用法比較少見，聽起來也更咬文嚼字 When it is written with a capital T (Thespian)當它字首大寫，寫成Thespian的時候 it usually points back to the Greek origin or to a named drama society通常是在指希臘字源，或是某個有名字的戲劇社團

Note that it is a neutral-to-warm word, not an insult: even when used jokingly, it teases rather than attacks.

Note that it is a neutral-to-warm word, not an insult要注意，這是個中性偏溫暖的字，不是罵人的話 even when used jokingly, it teases rather than attacks就算是開玩笑地用，也是在逗弄而不是攻擊