a bitter pill to swallow 苦果

“苦果”，原本是佛教用语，字面意思是“bitter fruit”，比喻不得不接受的痛苦结果（A situation or result that is unpleasant but must be accepted），与英文谚语“a bitter pill to swallow”意思相似。常用表达如，“自食苦果（ eat the bitter fruit of one's own making）”。

例句：

尽管后来他成了事业有成的生意人，以前的犯罪前科终究让他尝到了苦果。

Although he subsequently became a successful businessman, his criminal past caught up with him.

我做出了错误的决定只得自食苦果。

I had to pay the penalty for the wrong decisions I made.