Definition

1. Noun:
   • Natural scenery; landscape: Refers to the natural beauty of mountains and rivers, representing the general scenery of nature. It evokes a sense of picturesque and often majestic views found in the countryside or wilderness.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Anh ấy thích vẽ tranh sơn thủy. (He likes to paint landscape pictures.)
  • Vùng này nổi tiếng với sơn thủy hữu tình. (This region is famous for its charming natural scenery.)
  • Họ đi du lịch để thưởng ngoạn sơn thủy. (They travel to enjoy the landscape.)

Advanced Usage

• "Tranh sơn thủy": Literally "mountain-water painting," refers specifically to the East Asian artistic tradition of landscape painting, particularly in Chinese and Vietnamese art.
  • Bảo tàng trưng bày một bức tranh sơn thủy cổ rất đẹp. (The museum displays a very beautiful ancient landscape painting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Phong cảnh (n): scenery, view. This is a more general and common modern term for scenery, which can be natural or man-made.
  • Phong cảnh ở đây thật yên bình. (The scenery here is very peaceful.)
• Cảnh quan (n): landscape (often used in more formal or geographical contexts).
  • Cảnh quan núi non hùng vĩ. (A majestic mountainous landscape.)
• Núi sông (n): mountains and rivers. A more literal compound that directly names the elements.

Synonyms

• Landscape: The visible features of an area of land.
• Natural scenery: The picturesque aspects of the natural environment.
• Scenery: The natural features of a landscape considered in terms of their appearance.

Related Idioms and Classical References

• The term "sơn thủy" is deeply rooted in classical Vietnamese and Sino-Vietnamese literature and poetry. It is a standard, elegant term used to describe nature's beauty, often associated with philosophical reflection, artistic inspiration, and a retreat from urban life. It carries a more poetic and traditional connotation than the modern word .

noun

1. natural scenery, landscape