倔

• Pinyin: juè
• Hanzi breakdown: 倔 = 亻 (person) + 屈 (to bend, phonetic) — a person who refuses to bend, i.e. stubborn

Meaning

Stubborn; obstinate; pigheaded.

A colloquial adjective describing someone who is unyielding and refuses to listen to reason or others' opinions. More informal and often more negative than 倔强, though context matters. Frequently used by parents about children, or among friends in a teasing way. Common in northern Chinese dialects. Often appears in patterns like 倔脾气 (stubborn temper) or 倔得很 (really stubborn).

Examples

1. 这老头儿可倔了，让他去医院检查死活不肯去。 This old man is really stubborn — he absolutely refuses to go to the hospital for a check-up.
2. 你怎么这么倔啊，明明是你错了还不承认。 Why are you so pigheaded? You're clearly in the wrong and still won't admit it.
3. 他那倔脾气随他爸，一家子都是犟种。 His stubborn temper comes from his dad — the whole family are mules.

Usage Guide

Context: family, everyday, colloquial

Tone: mildly negative or teasing

Do Say

• 他这人就是倔，说什么都听不进去。(He's just stubborn — nothing you say gets through to him.)
• 别跟她犟，她倔着呢。(Don't argue with her, she's being stubborn.)

Don't Say

• 这个决定很倔。(倔 describes people, not decisions or things — for an inflexible decision, use 死板 or 固执的)

Origin & History

倔 = 亻 (person) + 屈 (to bend, phonetic). Someone who won't bend — a stubborn person.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal