倔强

• Pinyin: jué jiàng
• Hanzi breakdown: 倔 = 亻 (person) + 屈 (to bend, phonetic) — stubborn (one who won't bend); 强 = 弓 (bow) + 虽 (phonetic) — strong

Meaning

Stubborn; headstrong; unyielding; obstinate but with a sense of determination.

Describes someone who refuses to yield or change their position, but often with a positive undertone of resolve and backbone rather than mere stubbornness. Unlike 固执 (which is more negative), 倔强 can imply admirable persistence in the face of adversity. Often used to describe children, young people, or anyone showing spirited resistance.

Examples

1. 她骨子里有股倔强劲儿，认准的事情九头牛都拉不回来。 She has a stubborn streak deep down — once she's set on something, even nine bulls couldn't drag her back.
2. 那个倔强的小女孩摔倒了好几次，硬是不肯让大人扶。 That headstrong little girl fell down several times but absolutely refused to let any adult help her up.
3. 他的倔强在年轻时被视为缺点，后来却成了他成功的关键。 His stubbornness was seen as a flaw when he was young, but later it became the key to his success.

Usage Guide

Context: personality, character description, everyday

Tone: neutral to positive

Do Say

• 他有一种倔强的韧劲，失败多少次都不会放弃。(He has a stubborn resilience — no matter how many times he fails, he won't give up.)
• 这孩子太倔强了，说什么都不听。(This kid is too headstrong — won't listen to anything.)

Don't Say

• 他很倔强地同意了。(倔强 implies not yielding — if someone agrees, they're not being 倔强; use 勉强 for reluctant agreement)

Origin & History

倔 (stubborn, obstinate) + 强 (strong, unyielding). Both characters emphasize an unbending quality — together describing someone who won't be moved.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal