also: えこじ
na-adjective, noun
obstinate; stubborn; headstrong
Describes a person who stubbornly refuses to change their mind or behavior, often in a narrow-minded or perverse way. Can be used as a noun or adjectival noun.
彼は意固地になって、誰の意見も聞こうとしなかった。
He became obstinate and wouldn't listen to anyone's opinion.
あの人は意固地だ
That person is stubborn, so it's hard to persuade them.
Alternate kanji spelling; also read えこじ, but that reading is rare.
Rare reading of the alternate kanji spelling.
頑固 is a more common and general word for stubbornness, often used for personality traits. 意固地 implies a more narrow-minded, perverse stubbornness in a specific situation.
強情 also means stubborn, but often emphasizes a defiant or unyielding attitude. 意固地 has a nuance of being unreasonably obstinate.
The exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 意固地 literally suggest 'mind' (意), 'hard' (固), and 'ground' (地), fitting the meaning of stubbornness. The reading いこじ may be a sound shift from えこじ, which itself might be related to 依怙 (えこ, favoritism) and 地 (じ, disposition).