苦口婆心

Pronunciation: kǔ kǒu pó xīn Literal meaning: Bitter mouth, old woman's heart

Origin & Usage

The idiom 苦口婆心 (kǔ kǒu pó xīn) is commonly used in classical Chinese to describe the act of advising someone with sincere and patient intentions. The phrase combines 苦口 (kǔ kǒu), meaning 'bitter mouth,' and 婆心 (pó xīn), meaning 'old woman's heart,' to convey the idea of offering advice that may be difficult to hear but is given with a caring and compassionate heart. This idiom is often used to emphasize the importance of listening to well-intentioned advice, even if it is not immediately pleasant. It reflects the cultural value of 'good medicine tastes bitter,' suggesting that honest and constructive criticism, though hard to accept, is ultimately beneficial. In modern usage, it highlights the virtue of patience and kindness in guiding others.

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。