痛つう棒ぼう

noun

severe attack; harsh criticism

Figurative use: a sharp verbal or written attack, like a painful blow. Often used in contexts of strong rebuke or biting critique.

• 彼かれの論ろん文ぶんは痛つう棒ぼうを食くらわすような内ない容ようだった。

  His paper was a scathing critique.

• 社しゃ長ちょうから痛つう棒ぼうを浴あびせられた。

  I received a harsh rebuke from the company president.

noun

Zen stick; keisaku

Literal use: a flat wooden stick used in Zen meditation to strike meditators who are drowsy or inattentive. Also known as 警策 (けいさく).

• 坐ざ禅ぜん中ちゅうに眠ねむくなると、和お尚しょうが痛つう棒ぼうで肩かたを打うつ。

  If you get sleepy during zazen, the monk strikes your shoulder with the keisaku.