# 苦口婆心

kǔ kǒu pó xīn

Offer earnest, patient advice

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Speak tirelessly with caring concern

**Register:** Caring · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Describe repeated well-meant persuasion.

Good intentions do not guarantee advice is welcome or correct.

## Understanding the expression

The mouth tires from repeated explanation, but concern keeps the speaker trying. The expression describes earnest persuasion meant to protect or help another person. Parents, teachers, and friends commonly receive the description. The favorable tone recognizes care, yet repeated advice can also feel intrusive to the listener. Effective guidance requires listening as well as speaking. A sentence can acknowledge the effort without assuming that the adviser knows everything or should override another person's autonomy.

## Examples

母亲苦口婆心地劝他安排好学习时间。

### Traditional Chinese

母親苦口婆心地勸他安排好學習時間。

mǔ qīn kǔ kǒu pó xīn dì quàn tā ān pái hào xué xí shí jiān 。

His mother patiently and earnestly advised him to organize his study time.

老师苦口婆心地解释安全规则。

### Traditional Chinese

老師苦口婆心地解釋安全規則。

lǎo shī kǔ kǒu pó xīn dì jiě shì ān quán guī zé 。

The teacher patiently explained the safety rules.

她苦口婆心，却没得到回应。

### Traditional Chinese

她苦口婆心，卻沒得到回應。

tā kǔ kǒu pó xīn ， què méi dé dào huí yìng 。

Her earnest advice received no response.

别只苦口婆心，也听听孩子的想法。

### Traditional Chinese

別隻苦口婆心，也聽聽孩子的想法。

bié zhī kǔ kǒu pó xīn ， yě tīng tīng hái zi de xiǎng fǎ 。

Listen to the child as well as offering earnest advice.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E8%8B%A6%E5%8F%A3%E5%A9%86%E5%BF%83)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=596&webMd=1&la=0)

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