Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Close at hand, immediately adjacent: Describes something that is very near in physical space, often implying proximity or being right next to something else.
   • Imminent, impending: Describes an event or situation that is about to happen very soon.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Khu rừng nằm gần kề bên cạnh ngôi làng. (The forest lies close at hand next to the village.)
  • Chúng tôi sống trong hai ngôi nhà gần kề nhau. (We live in two houses immediately adjacent to each other.)
  • Nguy cơ của một cuộc khủng hoảng đang gần kề. (The danger of a crisis is imminent.)

Advanced Usage

• "ở gần kề": to be located close by/adjacent.
  • Có một trạm xăng ở gần kề. (There is a gas station located close by.)
• "sắp gần kề": to be drawing near/approaching (often for events).
  • Kỳ thi cuối kỳ đang sắp gần kề. (The final exam is drawing near.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gần (adj): Near, close. A more general term for proximity.
  • Nhà bạn tôi ở rất gần. (My friend's house is very near.)
• Kề (verb/adj): To be adjacent to, to border on. Often used in compound words or formal contexts.
  • Hai nước có biên giới kề nhau. (The two countries share a bordering frontier.)
• Kế cận (adj): Adjacent, neighboring (more formal/literary).
  • các vùng đất kế cận (the neighboring lands)

Synonyms

• Sát bên: Right beside, next to.
• Cận kề: Very close, near at hand (similar meaning, slightly more literary).
• Sắp tới: Upcoming, forthcoming (for events).

Related Phrases

• Gần kề bên: Right beside, close by the side of.
  • Anh ấy luôn đứng gần kề bên cô ấy. (He always stands right beside her.)
• Kề cận: To be close/near to (often used for abstract concepts like danger or a person).
  • không cho phép nguy hiểm kề cận (to not allow danger to come near)

1. Close at hand