Meanings of 愎
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 愎
Podcast: 愎
Podcast: 愎
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 愎
固执 (gùzhí) vs 顽固 (wángù) — use 愎 (bì) for a more negative connotation of obstinacy.
Be cautious with the tone; 'bì' has a negative connotation, so using it in a formal context may come across as harsh. Common collocations include phrases like ‘愎行’ (stubborn behavior). Avoid using it to describe someone’s determination positively.
As this character is not in the HSK word list, focus on understanding its components and practicing with related words like ‘倔强’ (stubborn) or ‘固执’ (obstinate), which are more commonly used. Familiarity with these will help contextualize 愎.
Learners often confuse '愎' with '忌' (jì), which means to be jealous or to avoid. Remember, '愎' relates to stubbornness, while '忌' has a different meaning. For example, using '我很愎' (I am very stubborn) is correct, but saying '我很忌' would imply jealousy, which is incorrect in this context.
Pronunciation of 愎
Drill the tone of 愎 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 愎
To persist 复 in error 忄; 复 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 愎
- 1The giveawayTo persist 复 in error 忄; 复 also provides the pronunciation
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 愎? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 愎?
Decomposition of 愎
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 愎?
How to say stubborn, obstinate, headstrong in Chinese
“stubborn, obstinate, headstrong” in Chinese is愎
The character 愎 (bì) refers to someone who is stubborn or obstinate, often in a negative sense. It is commonly used to describe a person who is unwilling to change their mind or actions, even in the face of reason or advice. This term can convey a sense of willfulness and perverse behavior.
When to use 愎
Be cautious with the tone; 'bì' has a negative connotation, so using it in a formal context may come across as harsh. Common collocations include phrases like ‘愎行’ (stubborn behavior). Avoid using it to describe someone’s determination positively.
愎 or something close to it
固执 (gùzhí) vs 顽固 (wángù) — use 愎 (bì) for a more negative connotation of obstinacy.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse '愎' with '忌' (jì), which means to be jealous or to avoid. Remember, '愎' relates to stubbornness, while '忌' has a different meaning. For example, using '我很愎' (I am very stubborn) is correct, but saying '我很忌' would imply jealousy, which is incorrect in this context.
Write 愎
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 愎 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 愎
Compound Meaning
What does 刚愎自用 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 愎
No, '愎' is generally negative, focusing on stubbornness that is unreasonable.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 愎?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.