A dependant is a person who needs you for food, clothes, money, or a place to live. Most often this is a child; it can also be a partner or an older parent who does not earn.

A dependant is所謂dependant，是指 a person who needs you for food, clothes, money, or a place to live.一個需要你提供食物、衣服、金錢，或住的地方的人。 Most often this is a child;最常見的情況下，這是指小孩； it can also be a partner or an older parent who does not earn.也可能是伴侶，或是沒有收入的年長父母。

You will see this spelling with an a mainly in British English, and mainly on official papers: tax forms, insurance, visas. In American English the same person is usually spelled dependent, with an e. The idea is the same.

You will see this spelling with an a mainly in British English,你會看到帶a的這種拼法，主要出現在英式英文裡， and mainly on official papers: tax forms, insurance, visas.而且主要用在公文上：報稅表、保險、簽證。 In American English the same person is usually spelled dependent, with an e.在美式英文裡，同樣這個人通常拼成dependent，用e。 The idea is the same.意思是一樣的。

It is a paperwork word, not a word you use with friends (“This is my dependant” sounds stiff). Though actually, a pet is not a dependant in this official sense, even if it depends on you — the word is for people.

It is a paperwork word,這是個公文用詞， not a word you use with friends不是你會跟朋友這樣說的字 (“This is my dependant” sounds stiff).（說「This is my dependant」聽起來很生硬）。 Though actually,不過其實， a pet is not a dependant in this official sense,在這個公文意義上，寵物並不算dependant， even if it depends on you就算牠確實靠你生活， — the word is for people.——這個字是用在人身上的。