◎ 逆水行舟 nìshuǐ-xíngzhōu[sail against the current(foad;stream;tide;wind)] 顶着水流行船。比喻不努力向前进就要往后退,也比喻做事有阻力学如逆水行舟,不进则退-----------------国语辞典：逆著水势行船。勉励人不论学习或做事都要不断努力，否则就会落后退步。如：「学如逆水行舟，不进则退。」英语 lit. a boat going against the current (idiom); fig. you must work harder德语 gegen den Strom (S)
◎ 逆耳之言 nì ěrzhīyán[bitter(home) truth;speech that grates on the ear] 直爽、不中听而有裨益的言语逆耳之言,不求而自至。——《晋书》-----------------国语辞典：不中听、不顺耳却有益的话，通常指忠告。《三国志．卷五三．吴书．张纮传》：「而忠臣挟难进之术，吐逆耳之言，其不合也，不亦宜乎！」晋．孙楚〈为石仲容与孙皓书〉：「夫治膏肓者，必进苦口之药；决狐疑者，必告逆耳之言。」英语 speech that grates on the ear (idiom); bitter truths, home truths (that one does not want to hear)