How to Read “良薬は口に苦し”
Ryōyaku wa kuchi ni nigashi
Meaning of “良薬は口に苦し”
“Good medicine is bitter to mouth” means that truly effective medicine is bitter and difficult to swallow, but one must endure it to cure illness.
By extension, it represents the lesson that advice and teachings that are truly beneficial to oneself are painful to hear and difficult to accept, but these are precisely the valuable things that lead to growth and improvement. This proverb is often used when receiving painful criticism or harsh opinions. It applies to situations like strict guidance from supervisors, frank advice from friends, or nagging from parents—things that may feel unpleasant at the time but later make you grateful, thinking “it was because of those words back then.” Even in modern times, the most valuable advice tends to be the hardest to hear.
Even in modern times, the most valuable advice tends to be the hardest to hear. Telling someone on a diet that “you should exercise a bit more” or pointing out to someone who failed at work that “you were underprepared” may be painful for them to hear. However, such frank opinions are often the most beneficial for that person’s future.
Origin and Etymology
The origin of “Good medicine is bitter to mouth” lies in a story recorded in the ancient Chinese classic “Kongzi Jiayu” (The School Sayings of Confucius). This book contains the passage “良薬苦於口而利於病、忠言逆於耳而利於行” (Good medicine is bitter to the mouth but beneficial for illness; loyal words go against the ear but are beneficial for conduct), which was transmitted to Japan and became established as a proverb.
Since Confucius’s time, many medicinal herbs and Chinese medicines indeed had bitter tastes, and herbs with fever-reducing and detoxifying effects were particularly bitter. In ancient China, bitter medicines were considered more effective than sweet ones. This way of thinking was based on the empirical rule that bitter components developed as a defense mechanism in plants in the natural world, and these brought medicinal effects to humans.
Chinese classics were transmitted to Japan along with Buddhism from the Nara to Heian periods, and this proverb also came to be used among intellectuals as classical Chinese. During the Edo period, it spread to common people and came to be widely used not just about medicine, but as a life lesson. In an era when medicine was not well developed, the persuasive power of these words was probably stronger than it is today.
Interesting Facts
Modern medicine has shown that bitter medicines are not necessarily more effective. In fact, children’s medicines are often made sweet to make them easier to take, with no difference in effectiveness. However, interestingly, there is psychological research showing that many adults feel that “bitter medicine seems more effective.”
Many of the medicinal herbs from the era when this proverb was born indeed had bitter taste components related to their medicinal effects. For example, bitter stomachics like Swertia japonica and Gentiana have the effect of promoting gastric juice secretion through their bitterness itself.
Usage Examples
- The manager’s harsh criticism was good medicine is bitter to mouth, and looking back now, I was able to grow thanks to those words
- My friend’s frank opinion was good medicine is bitter to mouth, but I’m really glad I listened
Modern Interpretation
In modern society, the meaning of “Good medicine is bitter to mouth” has become more complex. Precisely because we live in an age overflowing with information, people have a stronger tendency to select and consume only information that is comfortable for them.
Social media algorithms prioritize displaying information that matches our preferences. This has reduced opportunities to encounter “bitter” information that contradicts our opinions. However, truly valuable learning and insights are often found in “bitter” information that shakes our common sense and preconceptions.
This tendency is also prominent in the business world. There’s a trend to perceive constructive criticism from supervisors or colleagues as “power harassment” or to avoid harsh feedback. Of course, it’s necessary to distinguish this from unreasonable scolding, but rejecting even the “good medicine” needed for growth would be putting the cart before the horse.
On the other hand, in modern times, how to deliver “good medicine” is also considered important. It has become clear that the same content can become more acceptable to the recipient depending on how it’s conveyed. Coaching and mentoring techniques have developed, and methods to make “bitter medicine” more palatable are being researched.
While the essence of this proverb remains unchanged, in modern times, a more delicate approach may be required in terms of both “how to convey” and “how to receive.”
When AI Hears This
On modern social media platforms, posts that receive more “likes” are designed to reach more people. In other words, information that makes everyone feel comfortable spreads explosively.
However, truly valuable information has completely opposite characteristics. For example, research findings like “excessive smartphone use reduces concentration” or facts such as “eating only your favorite foods is bad for your health” are not actively shared because they are hard to hear.
This phenomenon can be called the “information artificial sweetener effect.” Sweet snacks are delicious and we tend to overeat them, but they have low nutritional value. Meanwhile, bitter vegetables are often avoided, but they are essential for our bodies.
In fact, Facebook research has shown that emotional and extreme content gets shared 6 times more often. Articles that provoke anger or anxiety attract more attention than calm, objective analytical pieces.
As a result, we end up living in an environment surrounded by “information junk food.” The truly necessary “bitter truths” get buried deep in search results, while only sweet and stimulating information overflows before our eyes. This can be called serious “information malnutrition” rather than nutritional deficiency—a critical issue for modern people.
Lessons for Today
“Good medicine is bitter to mouth” teaches modern people that growth always involves “discomfort.” We are creatures that seek comfort, but true growth lies outside our comfort zone.
In modern society, it’s possible to avoid harsh opinions and criticism. However, true growth cannot be expected that way. What’s important is developing the ability to distinguish “bitter medicine.” If we can differentiate between constructive criticism and mere insults, between loving strictness and unreasonable attacks, we’ll be able to accept truly valuable “good medicine.”
Also, when we’re in a position to give “good medicine” to others, it’s important to devise ways to make it easier for them to accept. Just as the same medicine can have different effects depending on how it’s taken, how we convey something can greatly change how the recipient receives it.
Life is a continuous process of learning. Sometimes bitter experiences are necessary, but they make you stronger and wiser. Don’t fear “bitter medicine,” but rather think of it as where opportunities for growth lie. You’ll surely encounter a new version of yourself.
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