trung ngôn
Definition
- Noun:
- Frank words / Straight talk / Honest advice: Words spoken with loyalty and sincerity, often to point out a fault or mistake for the listener's benefit. This term carries a classical or literary tone.
- Unpleasant truth: Advice or criticism that is truthful and well-intentioned but often difficult or uncomfortable to hear.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Người lãnh đạo giỏi là người biết lắng nghe trung ngôn. (A good leader is one who knows how to listen to frank advice.)
- "Trung ngôn nghịch nhĩ" là một câu thành ngữ quen thuộc. ("Honest words offend the ear" is a familiar idiom.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is most commonly encountered in the fixed literary idiom "Trung ngôn nghịch nhĩ". This means "Frank words are offensive to the ear" or "Honest advice is hard to hear," expressing the idea that truthful, critical advice is often unpleasant to receive.
Variants and Related Words
- Lời nói thẳng (n): Straight talk, blunt words. This is the modern, more common equivalent of "trung ngôn."
- Anh ấy nổi tiếng với những lời nói thẳng. (He is famous for his straight talk.)
Synonyms
- Frank advice
- Honest criticism
- Straight talk
- Unvarnished truth
Related Idioms
- Trung ngôn nghịch nhĩ: Frank words grate on the ear; Honest advice is hard to take.
- Đừng giận khi nghe phê bình, trung ngôn nghịch nhĩ mà. (Don't be angry when you hear criticism, for honest advice is hard to hear.)