良药苦口

良藥苦口
liángyào-kǔkǒu
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 good medicine tastes bitter
  2. 2 honest advice is hard to hear

Examples

HSK 3
Liángyào-kǔkǒu, nǐ háishi bǎ yào hē le ba.
Good medicine tastes bitter, so just drink it.
HSK 4
Lǎoshī de pīpíng suīrán nántīng, què shì liángyào-kǔkǒu.
The teacher's criticism is unpleasant to hear, but like bitter medicine it does you good.

Tips

history
The full saying is 良药苦口利于病,忠言逆耳利于行 "good medicine is bitter but cures the illness; honest advice grates on the ear but guides your actions". It goes back to the 《孔子家语》, with an earlier version in the 《韩非子》.

Stroke Order

良 liáng
药 yào
苦 kǔ
口 kǒu