Japanese word

頑な

Pronunciation

Romajikatakuna

Meaning

  • na-adjectivestubborn

Example

彼は頑なな人です。kare wa kataku na na hito de su

He is a stubborn person.

Illustration for 頑な (stubborn)

More examples

彼は周囲の忠告を頑なに聞き入れませんでした。kare wa shū i no chū koku o kataku na ni ki ki i re ma se n de shi ta

He stubbornly refused to listen to the advice of those around him.

Core concept

It describes a person who holds firmly to a view or decision and resists changing it.

Common phrases

  • 頑なな態度kataku na na tai do

    stubborn attitude

  • 頑なな姿勢kataku na na shi sei

    stubborn stance

Similar words

頑固ganko: Refusing to change opinions, habits, or ways of doing things.
強情gōjo: Refusing to yield or admit fault even when others urge a change.
意固地ikoji: Clinging to one's own position and refusing to compromise, often out of pride.

Definition in Japanese

自分の考えや態度を固く守り、他人の意見を受け入れようとしないさま。ji bun no kanga e ya tai do o kata ku mamo ri ta nin no i ken o u ke i re yō to shi na i sa ma

Word origin

頑な (katakuna) is a native Japanese word written with 頑 (gan, "stubborn") for its meaning, while the origin of the reading かたくな (katakuna) is not certain.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, 頑な (katakuna) often describes continued refusal to change a position, so it usually sounds more critical than a neutral description of firm resolve.

Opposites

Related words

  • 頑なさkatakunasastubbornnessnoun

Word lists with this word