A benediction is a blessing spoken aloud — a short prayer asking God to protect and help someone. In Christian churches it is a fixed part of the service: the priest raises a hand at the end and speaks the benediction, and then everyone goes home. That closing position matters, because it gives the word a second life: people say "a benediction" for anything that gives a gathering a peaceful ending.

A benediction is a blessing spoken aloudbenediction 是大聲說出來的祝福 — a short prayer asking God to protect and help someone一段簡短的禱告，祈求神保護、幫助某個人。In Christian churches在基督教會裡 it is a fixed part of the service這是禮拜固定的一部分: the priest raises a hand at the end and speaks the benediction牧師在最後舉起手、說出祝禱文, and then everyone goes home然後大家就散會回家。That closing position matters這個「放在最後」的位置很重要, because it gives the word a second life因為它讓這個字有了第二種用法: people say "a benediction" for anything that gives a gathering a peaceful ending大家會用「a benediction」來稱呼任何讓一場聚會有個平靜結尾的東西。

It is a formal, written, religious word. The everyday English word is blessing, and blessing works in every sentence where benediction works. Choose benediction when you want the weight of church language.

It它 is a formal, written, religious word是個正式、書面、宗教性的字。The everyday English word is blessing日常英文的說法是 blessing, and blessing works in every sentence where benediction works而且任何用得上 benediction 的句子，都可以換成 blessing。Choose benediction when you want the weight of church language想要那種教會語言的份量時，才選 benediction。

Outside religion, writers stretch it — sunlight falling on a field, a grandmother's hand on your head, may be called a benediction. That use is poetic, and you should recognise it in reading before you try it in writing.

Outside religion在宗教之外, writers stretch it作家也會把這個字延伸出去 — sunlight falling on a field, a grandmother's hand on your head陽光灑落在田野上、奶奶把手放在你頭上, may be called a benediction都可能被稱為 a benediction。That use is poetic這種用法很詩意, and you should recognise it in reading before you try it in writing你應該先在閱讀裡認出它，再考慮自己寫的時候用。

Taiwanese students meet a related idea in temple culture, but be careful: a benediction is words spoken over people, not a written charm or an amulet.

Taiwanese students台灣學生 meet a related idea in temple culture在廟宇文化裡會接觸到類似的概念, but be careful但要小心: a benediction is words spoken over peoplebenediction 是說出來、加在人身上的話語, not a written charm or an amulet不是一張寫著字的符或護身符。