頑固な（がんこな、gankona）
- stubborn

The Japanese word 頑固な, read as がんこな (gankona), primarily means "stubborn," "obstinate," "headstrong," or "stubborn." It describes a person or a characteristic that is resistant to change, unwilling to yield, or firmly fixed in their opinions or actions. It can also describe things, such as a "stubborn stain" or a "stubborn problem." It implies a strong adherence to one's own will and a refusal to be swayed by external influences. ⚫︎ It suggests a negative connotation more often than a positive one, as it often refers to a lack of flexibility or willingness to compromise.

⚫︎ 彼は頑固な性格だ。 Translation: He has a stubborn personality. ⚫︎ その問題は頑固な汚れで、なかなか落ちない。 Translation: That problem is a stubborn stain and doesn't come off easily. ⚫︎ 彼女は自分の意見に頑固なまでに固執する。 Translation: She sticks to her opinion stubbornly.

⚫︎ Use 頑固な when describing someone's character, behavior, or something's nature that resists change. ⚫︎ It is frequently used in everyday conversation to describe someone who is difficult, unyielding, or unwilling to change their mind. ⚫︎ Be mindful of the context; while it can be used for things, it primarily describes people.

⚫︎ 頑固な is typically written in kanji as 頑固な. ⚫︎ The reading is がんこな. ⚫︎ The word is an adjective (na-adjective). ⚫︎ There are no significant variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎ 強情な (ごうじょうな - goujou na): Obstinate, stubborn. ⚫︎ 強情っぱりな (ごうじょうっぱりな - goujyouppari na): Stubborn, pigheaded. ⚫︎ 意地っ張りな (いじっぱりな - ijippari na): Obstinate, headstrong. ⚫︎ 一徹な (いってつな - ittetsuna): Single-minded, staunch, persistent.

⚫︎ 素直な (すなおな - sunao na): Obedient, docile, cooperative. ⚫︎ 柔軟な (じゅうなんな - juunan na): Flexible, adaptable. ⚫︎ 従順な (じゅうじゅんな - juujun na): Submissive, obedient.

彼は頑固な性格なので、一度決めたらなかなか考えを変えない。 ・Translation: Because he has a stubborn personality, he doesn't change his mind easily once he decides. ・Explanation: This sentence describes someone's unyielding nature and how it affects their decision-making.

頑固な父親は、古い価値観に固執し、息子の新しい考えを受け入れなかった。 ・Translation: The stubborn father clung to old values and didn't accept his son's new ideas. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates how 頑固な can describe someone who is unwilling to adapt to new ideas or changes.

The word 頑固 is composed of two kanji: 頑 (gan), meaning "stubborn," "obstinate," or "hard," and 固 (ko), meaning "firm," "solid," or "hard." The addition of the suffix な (-na) makes it an adjective. Therefore, the word's meaning directly reflects the combination of these two kanji, conveying the sense of firmness and resistance to change.