Translation guide
Expressing stubbornness or refusal to change one's mind in Japanese, ranging from neutral persistence to negative pigheadedness.
Describing someone who is unyielding, persistent, or pigheaded, often in a negative sense.
The most common and versatile way to say someone is obstinate or stubborn. Can be used for people, attitudes, or behavior.
彼は頑固だから、説得するのは難しい。
He's obstinate, so it's hard to persuade him.
父は年を取ってますます頑固になった。
My father has become more obstinate as he's gotten older.
Describing someone who doggedly continues with something, often with a positive or neutral connotation of perseverance.
頑固 (stubborn) is usually negative, implying inflexibility. 粘り強い (tenacious) is positive, implying perseverance. Use 頑固 for obstinate refusal to change, and 粘り強い for admirable persistence.
There is no single verb 'to be obstinate' in Japanese. Use adjective/noun phrases like 頑固だ or verb phrases like 意地を張る. Avoid direct translations like オブスティネートである.
Literally 'to stick to one's will', implying stubbornness out of pride or obstinacy, often in a confrontational way.
彼女は意地を張って謝らなかった。
She was obstinate and wouldn't apologize.
Means stubborn or headstrong, often with a nuance of being unreasonably obstinate.
あの子は強情で、一度言い出したら聞かない。
That child is obstinate; once he says something, he won't listen.
A stronger, more literary term for stubbornness, implying a perverse or wilful obstinacy.
彼の片意地な態度には手を焼く。
I'm at my wits' end with his obstinate attitude.
Means tenacious or persistent, focusing on the ability to keep going without giving up. More positive than 'obstinate'.
彼は粘り強く交渉を続けた。
He obstinately continued the negotiations.
Means persistent or insistent, often with a negative nuance of being annoyingly obstinate or not knowing when to stop.
彼のしつこい勧誘にうんざりした。
I got fed up with his obstinate sales pitch.
An adverbial phrase meaning 'obstinately' or 'firmly', used with verbs of refusal or insistence.
彼は頑として自分の意見を曲げなかった。
He obstinately refused to change his opinion.