expression
good advice is harsh to the ears; honest advice is often unpleasant
A yojijukugo proverb meaning that sincere, well-meaning advice can be hard to accept because it points out one's faults. Used in formal or literary contexts.
忠言逆耳というが、彼の厳しい指摘は本当にためになった。
They say good advice is harsh to the ears, but his stern criticism really helped me.
A similar proverb meaning 'good medicine tastes bitter,' emphasizing that beneficial things are often unpleasant. 忠言逆耳 focuses specifically on advice.
A yojijukugo derived from classical Chinese, combining 忠言 (loyal advice) and 逆耳 (to go against the ear). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is conventionally associated with the idea that honest counsel is difficult to hear.