The kanji 頑 primarily conveys the idea of "stubborn," "obstinate," "firm," or "unyielding." It suggests a resistance to change, a resolute nature, or a strong and unyielding stance. It can also imply strength and durability.

・On-yomi (音読み): ガン (gan) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): かたくな (katakuna) - meaning "stubborn," "obstinate"

⚫︎ 頑固 (ganko) Translation: Stubborn; obstinate; headstrong. ⚫︎ 頑丈 (ganjou) Translation: Solid; sturdy; durable. ⚫︎ 頑として拒む (gantoshite kobamu) Translation: To refuse stubbornly; to refuse outright.

The kanji 頑 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字, keisei moji). The left side is the radical of "dog" or "pig" (犬/犭, inu/kemono-hen), which originally was probably depicted a tough animal. The right side is 元 (gen), which means "origin" or "beginning," implying "fundamental" or "solid." Thus, the character originally conveyed the image of a steadfast dog or pig, and by extension, something that is firm and unyielding.