be cruel to be kind
US /bi kruːəl tu bi kaɪnd/
UK /bi kruːəl tu bi kaɪnd/

1.
狠心才能幫到人, 為你好才嚴厲
to do something that causes someone pain or discomfort, but which you believe will ultimately benefit them
:
•
I had to fire him, but sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.
我不得不解雇他,但有時你必須狠心才能幫到人。
•
My parents made me study hard, and while it felt harsh at the time, they were just being cruel to be kind.
我父母讓我努力學習,雖然當時覺得很嚴厲,但他們只是狠心才能幫到我。