1.
hard to hear, painful to listen to (because it's true)
Describes criticism or advice that is uncomfortable to hear because it touches on one's own faults or weaknesses.
先生の言葉は耳が痛かった。
The teacher's words hit close to home.
耳が痛い話だが、本当のことだ。
It's hard to hear, but it's the truth.
彼の批判は耳が痛い。
His criticism is painful to hear (because it's true).
2.
to have an earache (literal)
Physical pain in the ear.
風邪を引いて耳が痛い。
I caught a cold and have an earache.
STRUCTURE: 耳 (ear) + が + 痛い (painful). The idiomatic sense is that criticism 'hurts the ear' because it's accurate.
IDIOMATIC vs. LITERAL:
- Sense 1 (idiomatic): Criticism that you know is valid - it 'hurts' because you can't deny it
- Sense 2 (literal): Physical earache
RELATED EXPRESSIONS:
- 耳に痛い (painful to one's ears) - similar idiomatic meaning
- 図星を指される (to hit the nail on the head)
- 正論 (sound argument) - often what makes ears 'hurt'
CONTRAST:
- 耳が痛い: hurts because it's true
- 耳障り (grating, unpleasant to hear) - generally annoying sounds
Related Words
Related:
耳 (ear)