A benefactor is someone who gives money so that a good thing can happen — a building, scholarships, a hospital, a charity. The word is respectful and a little formal. Schools and museums still put “our benefactors” on the wall.

A benefactor is someone who gives money so that a good thing can happenbenefactor指的是出錢讓好事得以實現的人 a building, scholarships, a hospital, a charity——像是蓋一棟樓、提供獎學金、蓋醫院，或資助慈善機構。 The word is respectful and a little formal這個字帶有敬意，也有點正式。 Schools and museums still put "our benefactors" on the wall學校和博物館牆上還是會寫『our benefactors我們的捐助人』。

You can use it for a living person or someone long dead. Though actually, it does not have to be a famous rich person; anyone who gives in this way can be called a benefactor, but English speakers usually save it for a serious gift, not buying a friend lunch.

You can use it for a living person or someone long dead這個字可以用在還活著的人身上，也可以用在早就過世的人身上。 Though actually, it does not have to be a famous rich person不過其實不一定要是有名的有錢人 anyone who gives in this way can be called a benefactor，任何用這種方式付出的人都可以叫benefactor but English speakers usually save it for a serious gift, not buying a friend lunch，只是英文使用者通常把這個字留給比較鄭重的餽贈，而不是請朋友吃頓飯這種小事。

The giver is the benefactor; the person or group who receives the help is the beneficiary. In everyday talk, donor or sponsor is more common.

The giver is the benefactor出錢的人是the benefactor the person or group who receives the help is the beneficiary；接受幫助的人或團體則叫the beneficiary受益人。 In everyday talk, donor or sponsor is more common日常對話裡，donor捐款人或sponsor贊助商比較常用。