Japanese meaning of 良薬は口に苦し

Reading: AI

りょうやくはくちににがし (ryōyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi)

English Translation:

Bitter pills may have blessed effects

Meaning & Cultural Context

Meaning:

Good medicine tastes bitter.

Cultural Context:

Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and integrated into Japanese proverbs; often used in education.

耳や口に厳しい忠告ほど役に立つという意味。
中国医学の概念に由来し、日本のことわざにも取り入れられ、教育の場でよく使われる。

Grammar & Learning Points

Grammar Point

• 良薬 (ryōyaku) = “good medicine” (noun)
• は (wa) = topic particle
• 口に (kuchi ni) = “in the mouth”; 口 (kuchi, “mouth”) + に (particle indicating location/target)
• 苦し (kurushi) = classical adjective form of 苦い (nigai, “bitter”)
Topic–comment structure with a classical adjective ending, giving a formal tone.

Trap for English Speakers

Could be misunderstood as discouraging medicine, missing the point about unpleasant but useful advice.

Example

Basic Example

良薬は口に苦しと頭ではわかっていても、父の説教は素直に飲み込めない。

Even knowing that bitter pills may have blessed effects, I can’t quite swallow Dad’s lecture.

Applied Example

良薬は口に苦しってわかってるけど、師匠のダメ出しは会心の一撃だ。

I know bitter pills may have blessed effects, but the mentor’s critique lands like a critical hit.