良りょう薬やくは口くちに苦にがし

expression

good advice may be hard to take; good medicine tastes bitter

Proverb meaning that honest, helpful criticism or advice can be unpleasant to hear, just as effective medicine often tastes bitter.

• 彼かれの忠ちゅう告こくは厳きびしかったが、良りょう薬やくは口くちに苦にがしというから、素す直なおに受うけ入いれた。

  His advice was harsh, but as they say, good medicine tastes bitter, so I accepted it honestly.