苦言

• 読み: くげん
• ローマ字: kugen
• 漢字の分解: 苦 (ku) — bitter, painful | 言 (gen) — words, speech
• 発音: /kɯ.ɡen/

意味

Bitter truth; frank criticism; harsh but well-intentioned advice. Words that are unpleasant to hear but necessary to say.

A noun combining 苦 (bitter, painful) and 言 (words). Often appears in the pattern 苦言を呈する (to offer frank criticism) or 苦言を告げる (to speak hard truths). The implicit tone is constructive — the speaker has the listener's best interests at heart. Contrasts with flattery (お世辞) or empty praise.

例文

1. 部下の失敗に苦言を呈することも、上司の大切な役割の一つだ。
2. 親友だからこそ、遠慮なく苦言を告げることができた。
3. その評論家は業界の慣習に鋭い苦言を浴びせ、物議を醸した。

使い方ガイド

場面: business, mentorship, criticism, journalism

トーン: serious

起源と歴史

Compound of 苦 (ku) meaning 'bitter, painful' and 言 (gen) meaning 'words, speech'. The metaphor of medicine: bitter words that heal, contrasted with sweet words that flatter but do not help.

文化的背景

時代: Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: General