"忠言逆耳，良藥苦口" 的23種譯法

今天在翻譯群中討論如何翻譯「忠言逆耳，良藥苦口」這句話，大家各抒己見，莫衷一是，現拈來共享。

01. Advice when most needed is least heeded
02. An effective drug is bitter.
03. Bitter medicine cures sickness.
04. Bitter pills may have wholesome effects.
05. Bitter pills may have blessed effects.

06. Faithful words offend the ears.
07. Faithful words grate on the ear.
08. Good advice, like medicine, is hard to take.
09. Good medicine tastes bitter.
10. Good advice is good for conduct but jars on the ear.

11. Good advice is harsh to the ear.
12. Good medicine is bitter in the mouth.
13. Good medicine for health tastes Bitter to the mouth.
14. Good advice is never pleasant to the ear.

15. Honest advice is unpleasant to the ear
16. Honest advice, though unpleasant to the ear, be  nefits conduct.
17. Unpleasant advice is a good medicine.
18. Unpalatable advice Benefits conduct.

還有一種譯文是
19. Although good medicine cures sickness, it is often unpalatable; likewise, sincere advice given for one』s well-Being, is often resented. 其實就是「良藥苦口利於病,忠言逆耳利於行。」的對等翻譯。

20. Honest advice is hard to accept.
21. Honest advice may be distasteful to the recipient.
22. Truth is a hard pill to swallow.
23. Truth hurts. 只有兩字，言簡意賅,妙。

以上譯法總結僅供參考，至於選用那種譯法要根據實際語境而定。