thuốc đắng dã tật, sự thật mất lòng
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Vietnamese[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Calque of Chinese 良藥苦口利於病，忠言逆耳利於行／良药苦口利于病，忠言逆耳利于行 (lương dược khổ khẩu lợi ư bệnh, trung ngôn nghịch nhĩ lợi ư hành); ultimately based on a line from Han Feizi.[1]
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Hà Nội) IPA(key): [tʰuək̚˧˦ ʔɗaŋ˧˦ zaː˦ˀ˥ tət̚˧˨ʔ sɨ˧˨ʔ tʰət̚˧˨ʔ mət̚˧˦ lawŋ͡m˨˩]
- (Huế) IPA(key): [tʰuək̚˦˧˥ ʔɗaŋ˦˧˥ jaː˧˨ tək̚˨˩ʔ ʂɨ˨˩ʔ tʰək̚˨˩ʔ mək̚˦˧˥ lawŋ͡m˦˩] ~ [tʰuək̚˦˧˥ ʔɗaŋ˦˧˥ jaː˧˨ tək̚˨˩ʔ sɨ˨˩ʔ tʰək̚˨˩ʔ mək̚˦˧˥ lɔŋ˦˩]
- (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA(key): [tʰuək̚˦˥ ʔɗaŋ˦˥ jaː˨˩˦ tək̚˨˩˨ ʂɨ˨˩˨ tʰək̚˨˩˨ mək̚˦˥ lawŋ͡m˨˩] ~ [tʰuək̚˦˥ ʔɗaŋ˦˥ jaː˨˩˦ tək̚˨˩˨ sɨ˨˩˨ tʰək̚˨˩˨ mək̚˦˥ lawŋ͡m˨˩]
Phrase[edit]
thuốc đắng dã tật, sự thật mất lòng
- (literal) bitter medicines ease ailments, the truth offends
- effective medicines tend to be bitter, and the truth tends to hurt
Usage notes[edit]
- Usually used to say "the truth hurts", but the first half can also be used to convince others to take unpalatable medicines.
References[edit]
- ^ Han Fei (author); Liao, W. K. (translator) (1959). The Complete Works of Han Fei Tzu - Vol. II, "Chapter XXXII. Outer Congeries of Sayings, The Upper Left Series". London: A. Probsthain. p. 35. Chinese original:「夫良藥苦於口，而智者勸而飲之，知其入而已己疾也。忠言拂於耳，而明主聽之，知其可以致功也。」; translation: "Indeed, good drugs are bitter to the mouth, but intelligent people are willing to take them because they know the drugs after being taken will cure their diseases. Loyal words are unpleasant to the ears, but the enlightened sovereign listens to them, because he knows they will bring about successful results."