苦口婆心 (kǔ kǒu pó xīn) — (idiom) to earnestly and patiently persuade or admonish someone with good intentions

Definition

An idiom for earnestly and patiently advising someone, often when they resist. Literally 'bitter mouth, kind heart' — stresses the speaker's good intentions despite the recipient's stubbornness.

idiom
to earnestly and patiently persuade or admonish someone with good intentions

Examples

  • 苦口婆心。
    Mā ma kǔ kǒu pó xīn dì quàn tā bú yào áo yè.
    Mom earnestly advised him not to stay up late.
  • 苦口婆心。
    Lǎo shī kǔ kǒu pó xīn dì jiào yù xué shēng yào hǎo hǎo xué xí.
    The teacher patiently urged the students to study hard.
  • 苦口婆心，。
    Wǒ kǔ kǒu pó xīn dì shuō le bàn tiān, tā hái shì bù tīng.
    I earnestly talked to him for a long time, but he still wouldn't listen.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

苦口bitter mouth
苦kǔbitter口kǒumouth
偏正Modifier + head
婆心caring heart
婆póold woman心xīnheart
偏正Modifier + head

苦口 and 婆心 stand side by side: bitter words paired with a caring heart.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
古
古gǔ苦kǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top 艸 shows grass or plants, matching the sense of bitter plants. The bottom 古 gives the sound.

Open 苦 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 口 looks like an open mouth.

Open 口 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
波
波bō婆pó
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

婆 pairs 女 (woman) with 波, which gives the sound. The 女 part shows the character is about a woman.

Open 婆 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 心 comes from a drawing of a heart, now highly stylized.

Open 心 →

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