Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small crack or fissure: A very narrow opening or split in a surface, often caused by drying, shrinking, or stress. It is typically smaller and shallower than a deep crack.
   • A gap or crevice: A fine line of separation between two parts or surfaces.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trên bức tường đất xuất hiện nhiều kẽ nẻ. (Many small cracks appeared on the earthen wall.)
  • Da tay bị khô nên có những kẽ nẻ nhỏ. (The skin on my hands is dry, so there are small fissures.)
  • Nước thấm qua các kẽ nẻ của đá. (Water seeped through the crevices in the rock.)

Advanced Usage

• "kẽ nẻ" in a metaphorical sense: Can describe subtle divisions or rifts in abstract concepts.
  • Vẫn còn những kẽ nẻ trong hiệp ước hòa bình. (There are still fissures in the peace treaty.)

Variants and Related Words

• Kẽ hở (n): a gap, an opening, a chink. Often implies a space that can be exploited.

  • Tìm kẽ hở trong luật pháp. (To find a loophole in the law.)

• Vết nứt (n): a crack. Generally implies a more significant, visible split than "kẽ nẻ."

  • Vết nứt lớn trên sàn nhà. (A large crack in the floor.)

Synonyms

• Fissure: A long, narrow opening or crack.
• Crevice: A narrow opening or fissure, especially in a rock or wall.
• Crack: A line on the surface of something where it has split but not broken apart.

Related Idioms

• Chui qua kẽ nẻ: to slip through a crack; to find and exploit a tiny opportunity or loophole.
  • Hắn ta luôn biết cách chui qua kẽ nẻ của pháp luật. (He always knows how to slip through the cracks of the law.)