sơn

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [səːn˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʂəːŋ˧˧] ~ [səːŋ˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʂəːŋ˧˧] ~ [səːŋ˧˧]

• Audio (Saigon):

  (file)

From Proto-Vietic *k-rəːn (“black varnish tree”). Cognate with Tho [Cuối Chăm] kʰrəːn¹.

(classifier cây (“the tree”)) sơn • (山, 杣, 𦘹)

1. Toxicodendron succedaneum
2. (by extension) lacquer; varnish
3. (by extension) paint

   Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn.
   Xấu người đẹp nết còn hơn đẹp người.

   Good wood is better than good gloss.
   Ugliness with good character is better than beauty.

• san

sơn

1. Sino-Vietnamese reading of 山

• Another reading of the character 山 is san, though it is not as popular as sơn and is only used in compounds; i.e. giang san (“rivers and mountains”).