geek和nerd这两个词都很有意思，适合放在一起介绍。


先说说geek。很难三言两语把它解释清楚。我搜索了一下，找到一个不错的定义，关键部分摘录如下：



Eventually the word was used to refer to anyone who was gross or undesirable, be it through lack of hygiene, lack of social skills, or some other repulsiveness.


Recently it’s come to imply a certain bookishness or braininess as well, in keeping with the American anti-intellectual tradition. Opinions vary as to whether the braininess causes the repulsiveness or vice versa.


Very recently — in the 90’s — the repulsive connotation has receded and the brainy factor has come to the fore. One often hears the word “geek” used in ironic and even complimentary fashion to connote knowledgeability and expertise.


所以，geek大部分时候是贬义，用来形容有几分天才味道、有点神经兮兮、不太受欢迎的人。至于不受欢迎的具体原因，可以是太书呆子气，过于不拘小节，不懂得社交礼仪，或者是不讲究个人卫生等等。


但是，geek已经越来越含有褒义的成分，尤其是用在朋友之间的时候。如果你有朋友属于特别聪明、成绩特好的类型，你就可以叫他/她geek（不过还是形容男生居多）。或者他/她特别痴迷某个领域，你可以叫他/她那个领域的geek，比如computer geek，science geek，history geek，music geek等等。


与geek类似，nerd原来也是贬义为主，用来形容头脑特别发达、但在社交场合极其低能的书呆子类型，但现在已经越来越含有说反话的味道。朋友之间经常可以互称彼此为nerd，没有贬低的成分，而是多了几分亲切感。


Geek和nerd的流行程度，从它们已经被正式收入字典可见一斑。还有一个强有力的证据，就是Google directory里居然专门有一栏是Geeks and Nerds。所以，要跟上潮流，一定要知道geek和nerd的意思。大家不妨看看自己身边有谁可以被称为geek或nerd。也许，你自己就是一个？:)


Bonus fun: 1）The Nerd Test  2）The Geek Test