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逆耳之言

nì ěr zhī yándictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
speech that grates on the ear (idiom) / bitter truths / home truths (that one does not want to hear)
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-3636922be1b32357. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

逆耳之言 逆耳之言 [ni4 er3 zhi1 yan2] /speech that grates on the ear (idiom); bitter truths/home truths (that one does not want to hear)/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

  • 逆
    nì

    contrary / opposite / backwards / to go against / to oppose / to betray / to rebel

  • 耳
    ěr

    ear / handle (archaeology) / and that is all (Classical Chinese)

  • 之
    zhī

    (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de]) / him / her / it

  • 言
    yán

    words / speech / to say / to talk

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.