Definition

1. Verb:

   • To cut, to chop, to fell: To separate or sever something by striking it forcefully with a sharp-edged tool like an axe or knife. This action is typically used for wood, plants, or meat.
   • To shatter, to break (figurative): To break or destroy something hard or restrictive, often used metaphorically.

2. Adjective:

   • Tight, secure, firm: Describing a state where parts are fastened together closely, leaving no gap, and are difficult to separate.
   • Strict, close, rigorous: Describing something that is closely monitored, tightly controlled, or logically sound and coherent.
   • Stingy, tight (colloquial): Describing someone who is very careful or frugal with spending, not generous.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • Anh ấy chặt củi bằng rìu. (He chopped firewood with an axe.)
  • Người nông dân chặt cây để lấy đất canh tác. (The farmer felled trees to get farmland.)
  • Cần chặt đôi con gà trước khi nấu. (You need to cut up the chicken before cooking.)

• Adjective:

  • Cô ấy buộc dây giày rất chặt. (She tied her shoelaces very tightly.)
  • Công ty có quy định giám sát rất chặt. (The company has very strict monitoring regulations.)
  • Ông chủ đó chi tiêu chặt lắm. (That boss is very stingy with spending.)

Advanced Usage

• "chặt chẽ": This is a common compound adjective meaning "strict," "rigorous," "tightly-knit," or "coherent." It intensifies the meaning of "chặt."

  • Kế hoạch này được chuẩn bị rất chặt chẽ. (This plan was prepared very rigorously.)
  • Họ có mối quan hệ chặt chẽ. (They have a close-knit relationship.)

• "siết chặt": To tighten, to clamp down (often on policies or control).

  • Chính phủ siết chặt quản lý nhập khẩu. (The government tightened import controls.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chém (verb): To chop, to slash. Often implies a more violent or sweeping cutting motion, sometimes with a sword.
• Cắt (verb): To cut. A more general term, often for cutting with scissors or knives in a smoother motion, not necessarily by chopping.
• Băm (verb): To mince, to chop into small pieces (e.g., for meat or herbs).
• Chặt chẽ (adj): As above, meaning strict, rigorous, tight.

Synonyms

• Verb: Đốn (to fell trees), chém (to chop/slash), cắt (to cut).
• Adjective: Khít (tight, close-fitting), nghiêm ngặt (strict, stringent), chắc (firm, solid), keo kiệt (stingy, miserly).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Chặt đứt: To cut off, to sever (both literally and figuratively).
  • Họ quyết định chặt đứt mọi liên hệ. (They decided to sever all ties.)
• Chặt khúc: To chop into pieces/sections.
  • Chặt khúc cây tre dài. (To chop the long bamboo into sections.)

Related Idioms

• "Lạt mềm buộc chặt": Literally "Soft tape binds tightly." An idiom meaning gentle persuasion or soft methods can be more effective and create stronger bonds than force.
• "Năng nhặt chặt bị": Literally "Frequent picking makes a full bag." Similar to "Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves," emphasizing that saving small amounts leads to substantial savings. Here, "chặt" implies a tightly filled bag.

verb

1. To cut, to fell, to chop, to shatter
   • chặt cành cây
     to cut a branch, to chop a branch off a tree
   • chặt tre chẻ lạt
     to fell bamboos and make tape

adj

1. Secure, close, tight
   • khoá chặt cửa
     to lock the door securely
   • lạt mềm buộc chặt
     flexible tape ties securely
   • thắt chặt tình bạn
     to make friendship closer, to strengthen friendship