How to Read “忠言耳に逆らう”
Chūgen mimi ni sakarau
Meaning of “忠言耳に逆らう”
“Honest words ear to go against” means that sincere advice or counsel given with the other person’s best interests at heart is unpleasant to hear and difficult to accept readily.
This expression is used to describe the human psychology where even honest and constructive advice tends to make the listener feel uncomfortable or resistant when it points out their shortcomings or demands improvement. It is used to explain situations where advice given by parents to children, supervisors to subordinates, or between friends is difficult for the recipient to accept, even when the advice is correct.
The reason for using this proverb is to help those giving advice understand the recipient’s reaction and recognize the need to continue communicating patiently. It also helps those receiving advice understand that painful truths are valuable for their personal growth. Even today, the universal truth contained in these words is applied when giving feedback or constructive criticism.
Origin and Etymology
“Honest words ear to go against” is said to originate from words recorded in the ancient Chinese text “Records of the Grand Historian” (Shiji). This phrase comes from the Chinese text “忠言逆於耳” and has been transmitted to Japan since ancient times.
“Honest words” refers to sincere opinions or advice given with serious concern for the other person. Meanwhile, “go against” in “ear to go against” does not mean “rebel” as in modern language, but in classical language meant “unpleasant” or “difficult to hear.” In other words, it expresses something that is hard to accept readily or feels uncomfortable even when it reaches one’s ears.
The background of this proverb’s creation lies in the political context of ancient China. It expressed the difficulty for retainers to tell the truth to their rulers, and the human tendency to avoid inconvenient or harsh criticisms.
In Japan, it appeared in literature around the Heian period and became established through the samurai era as a word expressing the importance and difficulty of “remonstration.” It was particularly valued as a teaching that loyalty sometimes meant conveying painful truths, especially in the relationship between lords and retainers.
Interesting Facts
The word “honest words” originally referred to “remonstration” that retainers would risk their lives to give to their rulers. In ancient China, it was not uncommon for retainers who pointed out their ruler’s mistakes to be executed, making it truly life-risking advice.
As a counterpart to this proverb, there is also the expression “Sweet words easily enter the ear.” This is used as an expression that more clearly contrasts the human nature of finding flattery and sweet words easy to hear while finding harsh truths difficult to hear.
Usage Examples
- The manager’s advice may be a case of honest words ear to go against, and everyone dislikes it, but I think those criticisms are accurate
- It may be honest words ear to go against for my son, but I should talk to him about his lifestyle habits while there’s still time
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of “honest words ear to go against” has become more complex. With the spread of social media and the internet, people have become prone to falling into the “echo chamber phenomenon,” where they selectively receive only information that agrees with their opinions. This can be said to be a modern version of “honest words ear to go against,” where people seek only information that is pleasant to hear while avoiding harsh realities or critical opinions.
In workplace environments as well, increased awareness of power harassment has made it difficult for supervisors to give strict guidance to subordinates. On the other hand, the importance of constructive feedback is also recognized, and creating environments where honest words can be more easily accepted under the concept of “psychological safety” is gaining attention.
Furthermore, with the development of AI and data analysis technology, it has become possible to provide “honest words” based on objective facts. However, human emotional resistance remains unchanged, and the difficulty of accepting inconvenient truths shown by data can be said to be a modern manifestation of this classical proverb.
Moreover, as globalization has brought diverse values together, the criteria for determining what constitutes “honest words” has also become complex. With differences in cultural backgrounds, cases where well-intentioned advice leads to misunderstandings are increasing, and we are in an era where more delicate consideration is required when applying this proverb.
When AI Hears This
The echo chamber phenomenon occurs when social media algorithms learn our preferences and display only information that aligns with similar opinions and values. This creates what could be called a modern version of “honest advice falls on deaf ears.”
In the past, family and friends would directly tell us “Don’t you think that’s wrong?” But today, machines automatically filter out “uncomfortable truths.” Facebook research revealed that approximately 75% of users are exposed only to posts that match their own political stance.
What’s particularly fascinating is that while avoiding honest advice used to be a matter of personal choice, today this advice gets blocked without us even realizing it. Algorithms operate on the principle that “longer viewing time = good content,” so comfortable information gets prioritized in our feeds.
As a result, modern people are more susceptible than ever to the state of “honest advice falling on deaf ears.” What’s worse, most people have the illusion that they’re being exposed to diverse information. This ancient wisdom seems to have predicted the structural problems of our modern information society with remarkable accuracy, highlighting how technology amplifies our fundamental human weaknesses.
Lessons for Today
What “honest words ear to go against” teaches us today is that the door to growth sometimes lies in uncomfortable places. If we only seek pleasant words, we will lose sight of our true selves.
What’s important is being grateful for the existence of people who give us harsh criticisms. It’s precisely because they seriously care about you that they convey things that are difficult to say. And when you’re in a position to advise someone else, you need to devise ways to make it easier for them to accept while having the courage to convey what needs to be said.
In modern society, we tend to avoid criticism and build harmless relationships, but this doesn’t create true trust. Relationships where we can exchange honest words with each other become the foundation that supports mutual growth. When we encounter painful truths, we want to have the mental capacity to see them as opportunities for growth. Surely, your new possibilities will open up from there.
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