良りょう薬やく口くちに苦にがし

expression

good medicine tastes bitter; the most helpful advice may be difficult to listen to

Proverb meaning that honest advice or criticism, like bitter medicine, is often hard to accept but ultimately beneficial.

• 彼かれの忠ちゅう告こくは耳みみが痛いたかったが、良りょう薬やく口くちに苦にがしというものだ。

  His advice was hard to hear, but as they say, good medicine tastes bitter.