A godchild is a child that an adult has promised to look after in a Christian way. That promise is made at a baptism, when the baby is welcomed into the church.

A godchild is a child godchild指的是一個小孩 that an adult has promised to look after一個大人承諾要照顧的小孩 in a Christian way以基督教的方式。That promise is made at a baptism這個承諾是在受洗的時候立下的, when the baby is welcomed into the church那時嬰兒被迎進教會。

The adult is the godparent (a godfather or a godmother); the child is the godchild. The godparent is not the mother or father.

The adult is the godparent那個大人就是godparent, a godfather or a godmother可能是godfather或godmother; the child is the godchild而那個小孩就是godchild。The godparent is not the mother or father godparent不是那個小孩的親生父母。

They are an extra grown-up who says, in front of God and the family, “I will help this child grow up well, and I will help them learn the faith.” In many families this is a real, warm tie for life: birthday cards, a gift at Christmas, a person the child can turn to. In other families it is mostly a church title and people do not meet often after the day.

They are an extra grown-up他們是一個額外的大人 who says, in front of God and the family在上帝和家人面前說, "I will help this child grow up well, and I will help them learn the faith."「我會幫助這個孩子好好長大，也會幫助他們認識信仰。」In many families在很多家庭裡 this is a real, warm tie for life這是一輩子真實、溫暖的關係: birthday cards生日卡片, a gift at Christmas聖誕節的禮物, a person the child can turn to一個小孩可以求助的對象。In other families在其他家庭裡, it is mostly a church title這大多只是個教會頭銜 and people do not meet often after the day而那天之後大家不常見面。

You will hear it in Christian homes, and in books and films that show a christening. It is a quiet, ordinary word — not slang, not a joke.

You will hear it in Christian homes你會在基督教家庭裡聽到這個字, and in books and films that show a christening也會在描寫受洗儀式的書和電影裡聽到。It is a quiet, ordinary word這是個平淡、普通的字 — not slang, not a joke不是俚語，也不是玩笑話。

Do not mix it with a child who is “like a son or daughter” in a loose, unofficial way. A godchild is tied to that baptism promise, even if the family is not very church-going later.

Do not mix it with a child不要把它跟一個小孩搞混 who is "like a son or daughter"那個小孩「像兒子或女兒一樣」 in a loose, unofficial way只是一種鬆散、非正式的說法。A godchild is tied to that baptism promise godchild是綁定在那個受洗承諾上的, even if the family is not very church-going later即使這家人後來不太上教堂。