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顽固 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
顽固wángùstubbornHSK 7, a, rank #6579, Hard
顽固wángùobstinateHSK 7, a, rank #6579, Hard
wángù(wan2gu4) T2
  1. 1stubborn
  2. 2obstinate
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March 24, 2026
顽固(頑固)wángù(wan2gu4)

顽固 (wán gù) describes a person who is unyielding or resistant to change, often clinging to their beliefs or habits despite evidence to the contrary. It can be used in both personal contexts, such as describing someone's character, or in broader contexts, like discussing stubborn policies or practices.

Frequency#6579DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being '顽固' can sometimes be viewed negatively, especially in contexts that value harmony and adaptability. This term might be used to describe someone who resists change in a rapidly evolving society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a stubborn goat ('gu') that refuses to budge from a particular spot ('wan' sounds like 'one,' as in 'one stubborn goat'). The goat's determination to stay put illustrates the essence of '顽固' as it relates to being obstinate.

Meanings of 顽固

wángù(wan2gu4)
1stubborn
2obstinate
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 顽固

顽固Simplified
頑固Traditional
Strokes
Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#6579Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 顽固

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Podcast: 顽固

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AI Study Notes for 顽固

Quick Contrast

顽固 (stubborn) vs 固执 (obstinate) — use 顽固 for a more general sense of stubbornness, while 固执 implies a stronger, often irrational adherence to one's beliefs.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a stubborn goat ('gu') that refuses to budge from a particular spot ('wan' sounds like 'one,' as in 'one stubborn goat'). The goat's determination to stay put illustrates the essence of '顽固' as it relates to being obstinate.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; '顽固' carries a negative connotation, so it is more suitable for informal contexts rather than formal discussions. Common collocations include '顽固不化' (stubborn and unchangeable) and '顽固的态度' (stubborn attitude).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, '顽固' connects with other advanced vocabulary that describes personality traits and behaviors. Focus on using it in varied sentences to express different contexts of stubbornness, and practice with synonyms like '固执.'

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being '顽固' can sometimes be viewed negatively, especially in contexts that value harmony and adaptability. This term might be used to describe someone who resists change in a rapidly evolving society.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '顽固' with '坚定' (jiān dìng), which has a more positive connotation of being resolute. For instance, saying '他是一个顽固的领导' (He is a stubborn leader) can imply negativity, while '他是一个坚定的领导' (He is a resolute leader) conveys strength.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 顽固

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Component Characters

wánmischievous
10 strokes
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hard
8 strokes
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Write 顽固

Practice writing 顽固 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 顽固

顽固 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高,not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

她相当____,宗教观念极强。

She was a fairly rigid person who had strong religious views.

Example Sentences for 顽固 (1)

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1
她相当顽固,宗教观念极强。

tā xiāng dāng wán gù, , zōng jiào guān niàn jí。

She was a fairly rigid person who had strong religious views.

Cultural Notes for 顽固

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, being '顽固' can sometimes be viewed negatively, especially in contexts that value harmony and adaptability. This term might be used to describe someone who resists change in a rapidly evolving society.

Frequently Asked Questions about 顽固

'顽固' is primarily used to describe people, but it can also refer to situations or policies that are resistant to change.