苦く言げん

く

げ

ん

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

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).

〈人ひと〉に苦く言げんを呈ていするto give someone frank, critical advice
監かん督とくは選せん手しゅたちに苦く言げんを呈ていした。
The coach gave the players some frank criticism.
苦く言げんを受うけるto receive frank criticism
彼かれはファンからの苦く言げんを受うけて謝しゃ罪ざいした。
He apologized after receiving frank criticism from fans.

忠ちゅう告こくN2
忠告 is general advice or a warning, while 苦言 specifically stresses advice that is harsh to hear but well-meaning.
助じょ言げんN2
助言 is a helpful, neutral suggestion, whereas 苦言 carries the connotation of being unpleasant or hard to accept.
諫かん言げん
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.
小こ言ごと
苦言 is blunt, well-meaning criticism offered for someone's own good, whereas 小言 often carries a petty or nagging tone.

甘かん言げん
苦言 is harsh but honest advice meant to help, the opposite of 甘言's flattering, self-serving sweet talk.

苦く情じょうN3
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'.