苦口婆心
苦口婆心 (kǔ kǒu pó xīn) literally means “bitter mouth, old woman's heart” and expresses “patient, sincere advice”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: ku kou po xin, ku kou po xin,苦口婆心 meaning, 苦口婆心 in english
Patient, sincere advice
Pronunciation: kǔ kǒu pó xīn Literal meaning: Bitter mouth, old woman's heart
Origin & Usage
Two halves that pull against each other. 苦口 is the bitter mouth of the proverb 良药苦口利于病，忠言逆耳利于行 — good medicine tastes bitter but cures, honest words grate on the ear but help the conduct. 婆心 is a grandmother's heart, patient well past the point where patience is deserved. Together they describe someone saying a hard thing repeatedly and gently to a person who does not want to hear it. The phrase is warm about the speaker and faintly exasperated on their behalf, and it usually appears as 苦口婆心地劝.
Examples
English: "Her tough love advice was meant to help him improve."
Chinese: 她的苦口婆心是为了帮助他进步。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
将心比心
jiāng xīn bǐ xīn
Empathy and understanding
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语重心长
yǔ zhòng xīn cháng
Heartfelt advice
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大义灭亲
dà yì miè qīn
Justice over family
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公而忘私
gōng ér wàng sī
Public duty crowds out private interest
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患难与共
huàn nàn yǔ gòng
Solidarity in hardship
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见义勇为
jiàn yì yǒng wéi
Courageous moral action
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上行下效
shàng xíng xià xiào
Influence of leadership
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舍己为人
shě jǐ wèi rén
Selflessness
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 苦口婆心 mean in English?
苦口婆心 (kǔ kǒu pó xīn) literally translates to “Bitter mouth, old woman's heart” and is used to express “Patient, sincere advice”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 苦口婆心 used?
Situation: Her tough love advice was meant to help him improve.
What is the pinyin for 苦口婆心?
The pinyin pronunciation for 苦口婆心 is “kǔ kǒu pó xīn”.