honest advice offends the ear; faithful words are hard to hear
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
honest advice that grates on the ear; sincere remonstrance that is unpleasant to hear
formalOften used in the proverb '良药苦口利于病，忠言逆耳利于行' (Good medicine tastes bitter but cures illness; honest advice is harsh but helps conduct). This chengyu emphasizes that beneficial advice, though difficult to accept, is valuable for personal improvement.
Liáng良
yào药
kǔ苦
kǒu口
lì利
yú于
bìng病
，
zhōng忠
yán言
nì逆
ěr耳
lì利
yú于
xíng行
。
Good medicine tastes bitter but cures illness; honest advice is harsh but helps conduct.
Wǒ我
zhī知
dào道
zhè这
xiē些
huà话
zhōng忠
yán言
nì逆
ěr耳
，
dàn但
wǒ我
shì是
wèi为
nǐ你
hǎo好
。
I know these words are hard to hear, but I say them for your own good.
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Zhōng忠
yán言
nì逆
ěr耳
，
xī希
wàng望
nǐ你
bù不
yào要
jiè介
yì意
。
Faithful words offend the ear; I hope you won't take offense.