candid advice; frank advice; honest opinion
Often implies advice that is hard to hear but well-intentioned; commonly used in the phrase 苦言を呈する (to offer frank advice).
My boss gave me some frank advice.
He offered a candid opinion about his friend's behavior.
The coach gave the players some frank criticism.
He apologized after receiving frank criticism from fans.
助言 is a helpful, neutral suggestion, whereas 苦言 carries the connotation of being unpleasant or hard to accept.
諫言 is an old-fashioned, formal term for candid advice given to a superior or ruler, while 苦言 is the everyday word for blunt but honest advice.
苦言 is blunt, well-meaning criticism offered for someone's own good, whereas 小言 often carries a petty or nagging tone.
苦言 is harsh but honest advice meant to help, the opposite of 甘言's flattering, self-serving sweet talk.
苦情 means a complaint about a problem, while 苦言 is well-intentioned frank advice, not a grievance, despite sharing the kanji 苦.
Compound of 苦 (bitter, painful) and 言 (words, speech), literally 'bitter words'.