Definition

Verb: - To tighten, to make tighter: To increase the degree of tightness, firmness, or strictness of something, often by pulling, fastening, or applying more force or control. - To strengthen, to reinforce (a relationship, control, etc.): To make a bond, connection, or level of control more secure, intense, or unbreakable.

Usage Examples

• Literal (physical tightening):
  • Anh ấy thắt chặt dây an toàn trước khi lái xe. (He tightened his seatbelt before driving.)
  • Cô ấy phải thắt chặt sợi dây giày. (She had to tighten her shoelace.)
• Figurative (strengthening control or relationships):
  • Hai nước mong muốn thắt chặt mối quan hệ hợp tác. (The two countries wish to strengthen their cooperative relationship.)
  • Chính phủ sẽ thắt chặt quản lý thị trường. (The government will tighten control over the market.)

Advanced Usage

• "thắt chặt vòng vây": to tighten the encirclement/siege.
  • Quân đội thắt chặt vòng vây xung quanh thành phố. (The army tightened the siege around the city.)
• "thắt chặt chi tiêu": to tighten spending/belt-tighten.
  • Gia đình tôi phải thắt chặt chi tiêu trong thời kỳ khó khăn. (My family has to tighten our spending during difficult times.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thắt (verb): to tie, to fasten. (e.g., - to tie a bow).
• Chặt (adjective/adverb): tight, firmly; (verb): to chop. (e.g., - to tie very tightly).
• Siết chặt (verb): to tighten, to constrict (often with a sense of pressure or squeezing). A close synonym to .

Synonyms

• Làm cho chặt: to make tight.
• Tăng cường: to strengthen, to enhance (more common for abstract concepts like relationships, security).
• Củng cố: to consolidate, to reinforce.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Thắt chặt lại: to tighten again, to retighten.
  • Cơn bão đã qua, anh ta thắt chặt lại những tấm bạt. (The storm passed, he retightened the tarpaulins.)

Related Idioms

• "Thắt chặt dây lưng": Literally "to tighten one's belt," meaning to live more frugally, to cut down on expenses.
  • Mùa dịch này, mọi người đều phải thắt chặt dây lưng. (During this pandemic season, everyone has to tighten their belt.)

verb

1. to tighten