良薬口に苦し

Japanese

Kanji in this term
良	薬	口	苦
りょう Grade: 4	やく Grade: 3	くち Grade: 1	にが Grade: 3
on’yomi		kun’yomi	kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
良藥口に苦し (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Calque of Literary Chinese 良藥苦口 (liángyàokǔkǒu). From Kongzi Jiayu (『孔子家語』 Kōshi Kego).

Phrase

良(りょう)薬(やく)口(くち)に苦(にが)し • (ryōyaku kuchi ni nigashi) 

1. good advice may be uncomfortable to hear

See also

• Chinese: 良藥苦口／良药苦口 (liángyàokǔkǒu), 忠言逆耳 (zhōngyánnì'ěr)
• Korean: 양약고구 (良藥苦口, yang'yakgogu)