Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Very close / Immediately adjacent: Describes objects or people positioned with minimal or no space between them, often touching or nearly touching.
   • Just enough / Precise: Describes an amount, calculation, or fit that is exact, with no surplus or deficit; down to the last unit.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Physical Proximity):

  • Hai ngôi nhà được xây sát sạt nhau. (The two houses are built very close together.)
  • Họ ngồi sát sạt trong góc phòng. (They sat very close together in the corner of the room.)

• Adjective (Exact Amount):

  • Anh ta tính toán sát sạt từng đồng. (He calculated it down to the last dong.)
  • Chiếc áo vừa sát sạt người. (The shirt fits precisely/snugly.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often implies a sense of tightness, crowding, or exactness, sometimes with a connotation of being barely sufficient or leaving no margin.

Variants and Related Words

• Sát (adj/prep): Close, near, adjacent to. A root word implying proximity.
  • Để sách sát mép bàn. (Place the book close to the edge of the table.)

Synonyms

• Cramped: For the proximity meaning.
• Exact / Precise: For the amount/fit meaning.
• Snug: Can apply to both proximity and fit.

Related Idioms

• Sát sạt sườn: An intensified form meaning extremely close or tight-fitting, often financially (e.g., a tight budget).
  • Kế hoạch chi tiêu sát sạt sườn. (The spending plan is extremely tight.)

adjective

1. very close