忠ちゅう言げん逆ぎゃく耳じ

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.

• 忠ちゅう言げん逆ぎゃく耳じというが、彼かれの厳きびしい指し摘てきは本ほん当とうにためになった。

  They say good advice is harsh to the ears, but his stern criticism really helped me.