stubbornly independent; sticking to one's convictions
A rare, literary yojijukugo describing a person who is obstinately self-reliant and refuses to compromise their principles. Often carries a nuance of aloofness or unyielding integrity.
He was stubbornly independent and refused to listen to anyone's advice.
As a man of unyielding integrity, he never compromised his convictions throughout his life.
頑固 is a common word for stubbornness, while 狷介不羈 is a rare, literary yojijukugo emphasizing principled independence.
独立独歩 means 'self-reliance' or 'going one's own way' without the strong nuance of obstinacy found in 狷介不羈.
A yojijukugo composed of 狷介 (stubborn, narrow-minded) and 不羈 (unrestrained, independent). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is a literary compound used to describe an unyielding, self-determined character.