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不撓 (ふとう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
na-adjective, noun
unbending ; inflexible ; indomitable ; tenacious
A formal, literary word describing a spirit or attitude that does not yield to hardship. Often used in set phrases like 不撓不屈 (indomitable and unyielding).
Similar words 不ふ 屈くつ 不屈 is more common and neutral, while 不撓 is more literary and often paired with 不屈 as 不撓不屈.
頑がん 固こ 頑固 means stubborn in a negative or inflexible way, whereas 不撓 has a positive nuance of unyielding spirit.
Etymology From Chinese 不撓 (bùnáo), combining 不 'not' and 撓 'bend, yield'. The exact historical path into Japanese is uncertain, but it is a Sino-Japanese word used in formal and literary contexts.
だ
。
Their tenacious efforts bore fruit.
