Japanese word

しぶとい

Pronunciation

Romajishibutoi

Meaning

  • i-adjectivepersistent

Example

彼女は反対されてもしぶといです。kano jo wa han tai sa re te mo shi bu to i de su

She is persistent even when people oppose her.

Illustration for しぶとい (persistent)

More examples

彼はしぶとく粘って、ついに勝ちました。kare wa shi bu to ku neba tte tsu i ni ka chi ma shi ta

He hung in there and finally won.

Core concept

Expresses the quality of holding on and pressing forward even when opposition or hardship makes progress difficult.

Common phrases

  • しぶとく粘るshi bu to ku neba ru

    hang on tenaciously

  • しぶとく食い下がるshi bu to ku ku i sa ga ru

    keep pressing tenaciously

  • しぶとい相手shi bu to i ai te

    a tenacious opponent

Similar words

根気強いkonkitsuyoi: A quality of patiently continuing an effort over time without giving up.
粘り強いnebarizuyoi: A quality of steadily pursuing a goal despite resistance or setbacks.
しつこいshitsukoi: A quality of refusing to stop and continuing insistently, sometimes in an unwelcome way.

Definition in Japanese

反対や困難にあっても容易にあきらめず、粘り強く続けるさま。han tai ya kon nan ni a tte mo yō i ni a ki ra me zu neba ri zuyo ku tsuzu ke ru sa ma

Word origin

The adjective しぶとい (shibutoi, "persistent") is the modern form of しぶとし (shibutoshi, "stubborn or tenacious"); its deeper origin is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In sports and news reports, this word often describes a competitor or team that remains difficult to defeat until the end.

Other meanings

  • stubborni-adjective
  • toughi-adjective

Related words

  • しぶとさshibutosapersistencenoun

Word lists with this word