dựa kề
Definition
- Verb:
- To lean side by side / to stand closely together: The primary meaning of "dựa kề" describes two or more objects or people positioned so that their sides are touching or very close, often for mutual support or simply due to proximity. It implies a state of resting or being placed immediately next to each other.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Hai ngôi nhà dựa kề nhau. (The two houses stand side by side.)
- Những cuốn sách cũ dựa kề trên giá. (The old books lean against each other on the shelf.)
- Họ ngồi dựa kề bên cửa sổ. (They sat leaning close together by the window.)
Advanced Usage
- This verb is considered somewhat literary or descriptive. It is more specific than the more common word "dựa" (to lean) because it inherently indicates a reciprocal or adjacent relationship between multiple entities.
Variants and Related Words
Dựa (v): to lean on, to rely on.
- Đứa trẻ dựa vào mẹ. (The child leans on the mother.)
Kề (v, adj): to be adjacent, next to.
- Hai thành phố kề nhau. (The two cities are next to each other.)
Synonyms
- To adjoin: to be next to and joined with.
- To abut: to touch or lean upon at one end or side.
- To stand side by side: to be positioned close together, facing the same direction.
Notes on Usage
- "Dựa kề" is a compound verb formed from "dựa" (to lean) and "kề" (to be adjacent). It is not an extremely common word in everyday spoken Vietnamese and carries a slightly poetic or vivid descriptive tone. It is used to paint a picture of physical closeness and often implies a sense of stillness or permanence in the position.