苦口婆心

kǔkǒupóxīn

idiom #50,822

Meanings

1 patient, earnest persuasion
2 to advise with well-meaning persistence
3 harsh-sounding words from a caring heart

Characters

bitter; painstaking

old woman; grandmother

Examples

老师苦口婆心地劝他好好学习。

Lǎoshī kǔkǒupóxīn de quàn tā hǎohǎo xuéxí.

The teacher patiently and earnestly urged him to study properly.

父母的苦口婆心，他终于听进去了。

Fùmǔ de kǔkǒupóxīn, tā zhōngyú tīng jìnqù le.

He finally took his parents' patient, heartfelt counsel to heart.

Tips

history

Two strands: 《宋史·赵普传》 on bitter-but-loyal counsel ('忠言苦口'), and 《景德传灯录》 using 老婆心 ('grandmotherly heart') for a master's nagging compassion. Combined: words that may sting, given out of grandmotherly care.

Stroke Order

苦 kǔ

口 kǒu

婆 pó

心 xīn