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良藥苦口. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
良藥苦口, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
良藥苦口 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
良藥苦口 you have here. The definition of the word
良藥苦口 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
良藥苦口, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
Etymology
The analogy is found in Hanfeizi:
夫良藥苦於口，而智者勸而飲之，知其入而已己疾也。忠言拂於耳，而明主聽之，知其可以致功也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
夫良药苦于口，而智者劝而饮之，知其入而已己疾也。忠言拂于耳，而明主听之，知其可以致功也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]- From: Han Feizi, circa 2nd century BCE
- Fú liángyào kǔ yú kǒu, ér zhìzhě quàn ér yǐn zhī, zhī qí rù ér yǐ jǐ jí yě. Zhōngyán fú yú ěr, ér míngzhǔ tīng zhī, zhī qí kěyǐ zhì gōng yě.
- Good medicine is bitter to taste, but a wise person tries his best to drink it, for he knows that it can cure his illness. Sincere advice grates on the ears, but a wise ruler listens to it, for he knows it can bring about success.
The same analogy is also found in Shiji and Shuoyuan.
Pronunciation
Idiom
良藥苦口
- (figuratively) good advice may be uncomfortable to hear
Descendants
- → Japanese: 良薬は口に苦し (ryōyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi) (calque)