Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Illusory; chimerical: Refers to something that appears real or possible but is actually not, often deceiving the senses or mind.
   • Impractical; unfounded; unrealistic: Describes ideas, plans, or hopes that have no basis in reality or practical possibility, often being wishful thinking.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Những kế hoạch đó hoàn toàn viển vông. (Those plans are completely unrealistic.)
  • Đừng nuôi hy vọng viển vông. (Don't foster illusory hopes.)
  • Giấc mơ của anh ấy thật viển vông. (His dream is utterly chimerical.)

Advanced Usage

• Often used to critique proposals, dreams, or theories that are considered fanciful and detached from practical constraints or evidence.
  • Lý thuyết của họ bị cho là viển vông. (Their theory was deemed impractical.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ảo tưởng (n): illusion, delusion. While "viển vông" describes the unrealistic nature of something, "ảo tưởng" is the unrealistic belief itself.
  • Anh ta đang sống trong ảo tưởng. (He is living in an illusion.)

Synonyms

• Unrealistic: Not based on facts or practicality.
• Fanciful: Over-imaginative and unrealistic.
• Pipe dream: A hope or scheme that is impossible to achieve.

Related Idioms

• Mơ tưởng viển vông: to indulge in pipe dreams.
  • Hắn chỉ biết mơ tưởng viển vông. (He only knows how to indulge in pipe dreams.)