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忠言逆耳

Mandarin · pinyin zhōng yán nì ěr

loyal advice jars on the ears (idiom)

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Characters in this entry

忠: zhōng · loyalty, devotion, fidelity
言: yán · words, speech; speak, say; Kangxi radical 149
逆: nì · disobey, rebel; rebel, traitor
耳: ěr · ear; merely, only; handle; Kangxi radical 128

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Mandarin tones

1–2–4–3 · zhong1 yan2 ni4 er3

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

zung1 jin4 jik6 ji5

Cantonese word readings for 忠言逆耳. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) sincere advice may be unpleasant to the ear (but it is beneficial)

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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