Definition

Noun: - Godson; godchild; goddaughter: A person, typically a child, who is sponsored by an adult (a godparent) during a Christian baptism ceremony. The godparent pledges to support the child's spiritual upbringing. By extension, it can refer to any younger person who receives special guidance, patronage, or protection from an older, more established benefactor.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trong lễ rửa tội, anh ấy đã nhận cậu bé làm con đỡ đầu. (At the baptism, he took the boy as his godson.)
  • Bà ấy rất quan tâm đến đứa con đỡ đầu của mình. (She cares deeply for her goddaughter.)
  • Nhà văn nổi tiếng đã nhận cô sinh viên tài năng làm con đỡ đầu trong sự nghiệp văn chương. (The famous writer took the talented student as his protégé in her literary career.)

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metaphorically outside of religious contexts to describe a mentor-mentee or patron-protégé relationship, where the "con đỡ đầu" receives special support, advice, or opportunities.
  • Công ty này thường nhận các startup nhỏ làm con đỡ đầu để hỗ trợ phát triển. (This company often takes small startups under its wing to support their development.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bố đỡ đầu / Cha đỡ đầu (noun): Godfather.
  • Ông ấy là bố đỡ đầu của tôi. (He is my godfather.)
• Mẹ đỡ đầu (noun): Godmother.
  • Bà ấy đóng vai trò mẹ đỡ đầu cho đứa trẻ. (She acts as the child's godmother.)

Synonyms

• Godchild: A child for whom one is a godparent (general term for godson or goddaughter).
• Protégé / Protégée: A person who is guided and supported by an older, more experienced person.
• Ward: A person, especially a minor, under the care of a guardian.

Related Phrases

• Nhận làm con đỡ đầu: To take someone as a godchild/protégé.
  • Họ đã nhận đứa trẻ mồ côi làm con đỡ đầu. (They took the orphan child as their godchild.)
• Sự bảo trợ: Patronage, sponsorship (describes the act of being a godparent or patron).

noun

1. Godson; god-child;god-daughter