Definition

1. Verb:

   • To sponsor / to patronize: To provide support, guidance, and often financial assistance to a person, organization, or cause, especially at its beginning or during its development.
   • To be a godparent / to stand as a godparent: In a Christian (often Catholic) baptismal ceremony, to formally accept the religious responsibility of guiding a child in the faith.

2. Noun (commonly used in compound forms like cha đỡ đầu, mẹ đỡ đầu):

   • Sponsor / Patron: A person who provides support and guidance.
   • Godfather / Godmother: A person who acts as a sponsor at a baptism.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Công ty đó đã đỡ đầu cho chương trình học bổng. (That company sponsored the scholarship program.)
  • Họ nhờ tôi đỡ đầu cho con gái trong lễ rửa tội. (They asked me to be their daughter's godmother at the baptism.)
• Noun (in compound form):
  • Ông ấy là cha đỡ đầu của câu lạc bộ bóng đá trẻ. (He is the patron/sponsor of the youth football club.)
  • Cha đỡ đầu của em bé đã tặng một món quà ý nghĩa. (The baby's godfather gave a meaningful gift.)

Advanced Usage

• The term implies a formal or semi-formal relationship of guidance and protection, beyond simple help (). It often carries a connotation of mentorship and long-term commitment.
• In a business or artistic context, a (sponsor/backer) is someone who supports a project or individual's career.

Variants and Related Words

• Cha đỡ đầu (n): Godfather; male sponsor/patron.
• Mẹ đỡ đầu (n): Godmother; female sponsor/patron.
• Nhà đỡ đầu (n): Patron, backer, sponsor (often for projects or artists).
• Sự đỡ đầu (n): Sponsorship, patronage.

Synonyms

• To sponsor / to patronize: Bảo trợ, tài trợ.
• To mentor: Dìu dắt, hướng dẫn.
• Godparent: Cha mẹ đỡ đầu (in religious context).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Mối quan hệ đỡ đầu: A patron-client or mentor-mentee relationship.
  • Anh ấy có mối quan hệ đỡ đầu với một chính trị gia quyền lực. (He has a patron relationship with a powerful politician.)

verb

1. to sponsor
   • cha đỡ đầu
     Godfather