be cruel to be kind

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