suông

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.).

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [suəŋ˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʂuəŋ˧˧] ~ [suəŋ˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʂuəŋ˧˧] ~ [suəŋ˧˧]

suông • (冲, 充, 㤝, 衝, 𫁔, 𬔔)

1. (now chiefly in some expressions, usually with negative connotations) by itself; uncompanied

   rượu suông ― alcohol without any side dish

   canh suông ― a watery soup dish that should (but does not) have more ingredients or be part of a meal

2. (by extension, of moonlight) bright but not clear, thus giving a cold and dull feeling
3. (by extension, of words) empty of promises; said but not done

   lí thuyết suông ― pure theory, not yet vertified with any experiment

   • 1951 July 19, Hồ Chí Minh, “Thực hành sinh ra hiểu biết, hiểu biết tiến lên lý luận, lý luận lãnh đạo thực hành [Practice begets knowledge, knowledge leads to theory, theory guides practice]”, in Nhân Dân‎^[1], number 17, pages 3-4:

     Đồng chí Xtalin nói: ‘Lý luận tách rời thực hành là lý luận suông. Thực hành tách rời lý luận là thực hành mù quáng’.

     Comrade Stalin said: ‘Theory cut off from practice is empty. Practice cut off from theory is blind’.