This proverb emphasizes the value of truth despite its apparent harshness. Just as sugarcane vinegar retains its sweetness despite its sharp acidity and persistence, truthful and honest words, though they may be hard to accept at first, hold an inherent value and underlying kindness. Essentially, speaking the truth, much like a bitter medicine, is beneficial in the long run despite its initial unpleasantness. An equivalent proverb in English would be: “Truth is bitter but its result is sweet.”