Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Close to; near to; adjacent: Describes a position or state of being very near, with little or no perceived distance between objects or people.
   • Juxtaposed: Placed side by side.

2. Verb:

   • To place close to; to bring near: The action of moving something to a position very close to something else.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Hai ngôi nhà này ở kề nhau. (These two houses are adjacent to each other.)
  • Họ ngồi vai kề vai. (They sat shoulder to shoulder.)

• Verb:

  • Anh ấy kề tờ giấy vào mắt để đọc. (He held the paper close to his eyes to read.)
  • Cô ấy kề miệng vào tai tôi thì thầm. (She leaned her mouth close to my ear and whispered.)

Advanced Usage

• "kề cận": to be close/near (often used for abstract concepts like time or relationships).

  • Ngày thi đã kề cận. (The exam day is imminent.)

• "kề bên": right beside/next to (emphasizing physical proximity).

  • Tôi luôn kề bên bạn. (I am always right beside you.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sát kề (adj/verb): Very close/right next to; to press right up against. Emphasizes even closer proximity than "kề".

  • Mối nguy hiểm đã sát kề. (The danger was imminent/right upon us.)

• Kềm (n): Pliers (a tool that grips by bringing its jaws close together). This is a distinct noun derived from the concept of bringing things close.

Synonyms

• Gần (adj): Near, close. (More general than "kề". "Kề" implies direct contact or negligible space.)
• Sát (adj/verb): Close, tight, adjoining; to press against. (Often implies touching or being flush against.)
• Áp (verb): To press, to apply. (Focuses on the action of pressing one thing against another.)

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Kề vào (verb phrase): To lean/place against.

  • Đứa trẻ kề vào người mẹ. (The child snuggled up to the mother.)

• Kề vai sát cánh (idiomatic phrase): Literally "shoulder to shoulder, side by side"; to stand together in solidarity.

  • Chúng tôi kề vai sát cánh chiến đấu. (We fought side by side.)

Related Idioms

• Gươm kề cổ: Literally "sword at the neck"; describes an extremely dangerous or life-threatening situation.

  • Tình thế như gươm kề cổ. (The situation is extremely perilous [like a sword at the neck].)

• Kề tai nói nhỏ: To whisper into someone's ear (by bringing one's mouth close to the ear).

  • Cô ấy kề tai nói nhỏ bí mật. (She whispered the secret.)

adj

1. close to; near to