Votive describes something given, done, or offered because of a promise made to God, to a saint, or to a spirit — usually a promise like "if you help me, I will bring you this".

Votive這個字 describes something given, done, or offered描述的是一件被獻上、被做、或被供奉的東西，because of a promise made to God, to a saint, or to a spirit因為對神、聖人或某個靈體許下的一個承諾——usually a promise like "if you help me, I will bring you this"通常是像"如果你幫我，我就會帶這個來給你"這樣的承諾。

So a votive offering is a gift left at a shrine after a prayer was answered; a votive candle is a candle lit as part of such a promise or prayer; a votive tablet is a small plaque left in thanks.

So所以 a votive offering votive offering（還願供品） is是 a gift left at a shrine after a prayer was answered一個祈禱得到回應之後，留在神壇上的禮物；a votive candle votive candle（還願蠟燭） is是 a candle lit as part of such a promise or prayer作為這種承諾或祈禱的一部分而點的蠟燭；a votive tablet votive tablet（還願牌匾） is是 a small plaque left in thanks一塊留下來表達感謝的小牌匾。

It is an adjective, and it lives almost entirely in religion, art history, and museum labels. You would not use it about an ordinary promise between friends.

It它 is是 an adjective一個形容詞，and而且 it它 lives almost entirely in religion, art history, and museum labels幾乎只出現在宗教、藝術史和博物館的標籤說明裡。You would not use it你不會拿它 about an ordinary promise between friends來講朋友之間普通的一個承諾。

There is one everyday exception that has drifted from the religion: in English-speaking countries, especially the United States, a *votive* (also "votive candle") is now a common name in shops for a small, short, thick candle that sits in a little glass cup — sold for the bathroom or the dinner table, with nobody praying at all. So the same word covers both a serious object in a church and a scented candle from a home-goods store; the setting tells you which. Note also that in a museum, "votive" often signals "this object was never meant for daily use — it was made to be given".

There is one everyday exception還有一個日常生活裡的例外 that has drifted from the religion已經跟宗教脫節了：in English-speaking countries, especially the United States在英語系國家，尤其是美國，a *votive* (also "votive candle")*votive*（也叫"votive candle"） is now a common name in shops現在是店裡常見的一種名稱 for a small, short, thick candle that sits in a little glass cup指那種放在小玻璃杯裡、矮矮胖胖的小蠟燭——sold for the bathroom or the dinner table賣來放在浴室或餐桌上用，with nobody praying at all完全沒有人在祈禱。So所以 the same word同一個字 covers both a serious object in a church既涵蓋教堂裡一件嚴肅的物品 and也涵蓋 a scented candle from a home-goods store居家用品店裡的一根香氛蠟燭；the setting要看場合 tells you which才能判斷是哪一種。Note也要注意 also that in a museum在博物館裡，"votive" often signals "votive"這個字常常代表的意思是 "this object was never meant for daily use — it was made to be given"「這件東西從來就不是拿來日常使用的——它就是為了被獻上而做的」。