哑巴吃黄连

哑巴吃黄连

Literally means:

a muth eating goldthread root

Actually means:

be compelled to suffer in silence; swallow one's bitterness

This phrase comes from a two-part allegorical saying 哑巴吃黄连，有苦说不出, that is, "a mute eating goldthread root is unable to de scribe the bitter taste". Goldthread is a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb which tastes extremely bitter.

A mute eating this herb is unable to describe how bitter it is, so he can do nothing but endure the suffering in silence. This phrase describes the in ability to vent out one's pain and sufferings, or to complain about one's grievance. It implies a sense of having no alternative.

来自歇后语“哑巴吃黄连，有苦说不出”。黄连是常用来制药的植物，味道很苦，不会说话的哑巴吃了以后，说不出黄连给他带来的苦处，只好无奈地忍受。

哑巴吃黄连，比喻有了苦处和难处，却无法说出来的，或吃了苦头，受了委屈却无处申诉。含有无可奈何的意味。