諺語 · a single proverb
良藥苦口利於病
Simplified: 良药苦口利于病
What does 良藥苦口利於病 (liáng yào kǔ kǒu lì yú bìng) mean?
良藥苦口利於病 (liáng yào kǔ kǒu lì yú bìng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語). Word for word it reads "good medicine tastes bitter but benefits the illness." In use it means: The remedy that heals is rarely the one that tastes pleasant. Effective help often comes in uncomfortable packaging. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Metal note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Dog.
Literally: "good medicine tastes bitter but benefits the illness."
The reading
The child spits out the medicine and drinks the juice. The juice tastes better and does nothing. The medicine tastes terrible and fixes the fever. Your body does not care about your preferences. Neither does the truth. The useful thing and the pleasant thing are sometimes the same, but do not count on it.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Kongzi Jiayu 孔子家語; Records of the Grand Historian 史記 (paired with 忠言逆耳)
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Nature, Seasons & Health, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Dog, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 良藥苦口利於病 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 良藥苦口利於病 (liáng yào kǔ kǒu lì yú bìng) is a folk proverb (yànyǔ 諺語), and it comes from Kongzi Jiayu 孔子家語; Records of the Grand Historian 史記 (paired with 忠言逆耳). It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 良藥苦口利於病?
In Mandarin it is liáng yào kǔ kǒu lì yú bìng. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 良藥苦口利於病 aloud in Mandarin.