A tree-hugger is someone who cares about protecting nature — and the person saying it thinks that person goes too far. This is an insult, or at least a tease. It is not a name environmentalists usually give themselves.

A tree-hugger is someone who cares about protecting natureTree-hugger是指一個在乎保護大自然的人—— and the person saying it thinks that person goes too far而說這句話的人覺得，那個人做得太過頭了。 This is an insult, or at least a tease這是一種侮辱，或至少是嘲弄。 It is not a name environmentalists usually give themselves這不是環保人士通常會拿來稱呼自己的名稱。

The picture inside the word is literal: a protester with their arms around a tree so the workers cannot cut it down. That really happened, and still does, but the word has drifted away from actual protesting. Now it is thrown at anyone whose green habits annoy the speaker — refusing plastic bags, giving up meat, complaining about the air conditioning.

The picture inside the word is literal這個詞裡的畫面是很直白的： a protester with their arms around a tree so the workers cannot cut it down一個抗議者用雙臂抱住一棵樹，讓工人沒辦法把它砍掉。 That really happened, and still does這真的發生過，現在也還在發生， but the word has drifted away from actual protesting但這個詞已經漸漸脫離真正的抗議行動。 Now it is thrown at anyone whose green habits annoy the speaker現在它被丟給任何一個環保習慣讓說話者感到煩的人—— refusing plastic bags, giving up meat, complaining about the air conditioning拒絕用塑膠袋、不吃肉、抱怨冷氣。

"Don't be such a tree-hugger." How rude is it? It depends entirely on who is speaking. From a stranger in an argument, it is dismissive and means 'your concern is silly'. Between friends it is light teasing.

"Don't be such a tree-hugger."『Don't be such a tree-hugger.（別這麼像個tree-hugger。）』 How rude is it?這句話有多不禮貌？ It depends entirely on who is speaking完全要看是誰在講。 From a stranger in an argument, it is dismissive如果是吵架時陌生人講的，那是輕蔑的， and means 'your concern is silly'意思是『你在乎的東西很可笑』。 Between friends it is light teasing朋友之間講，就只是輕鬆的調侃。

And some people have picked it up and worn it on purpose — "yes, I'm a tree-hugger and I'm fine with that" — which is what people often do with an insult to take the sting out of it. That reclaimed use is common enough now that you cannot read the word without reading the speaker's face too.

And some people have picked it up and worn it on purpose也有些人故意接下這個詞、自己戴上—— "yes, I'm a tree-hugger and I'm fine with that"『yes, I'm a tree-hugger and I'm fine with that（對，我就是tree-hugger，我不介意）』—— which is what people often do with an insult to take the sting out of it這是人們面對一個侮辱時常做的事，把它的刺拔掉。 That reclaimed use is common enough now這種奪回來的用法現在已經夠常見 that you cannot read the word without reading the speaker's face too讓你光看到這個詞沒辦法判斷意思，還得看講話的人是什麼表情。

Because it is disapproving at heart, do not use it to describe someone respectfully; say 'environmentalist' or 'environmental activist' instead.

Because it is disapproving at heart因為它骨子裡是帶著不以為然的， do not use it to describe someone respectfully不要拿它來尊重地形容一個人； say 'environmentalist' or 'environmental activist' instead要用的話請改說『environmentalist（環保人士）』或『environmental activist（環保運動者）』。