A proverb meaning useful medicine tastes bitter — helpful advice or corrective criticism is often hard to accept.
良薬は口に苦しと言うから、上司の厳しい指摘も受け止めようと思った。
They say 'good medicine tastes bitter', so I decided to accept my boss's harsh criticism.
子どもにとっては厳しい注意が必要だ。良薬は口に苦しだ。
Children sometimes need strict warnings. Good medicine tastes bitter.
友人の忠告は耳が痛かったが、良薬は口に苦しだと後で感謝した。
My friend's advice stung at the time, but later I was grateful — good medicine tastes bitter.