愎 (bì) - Obstinate & stubborn

愎Tone 4

bì ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

愎 · bì

Obstinate;

stubborn;

willful;

perverse;

headstrong;

unyielding.

Obstinatestubbornwillful

Usage highlights

Obstinate and selfStubborn adviceWillful and perverseStubborn natureHeadstrong and opinionatedUnyielding character

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is known for being obstinate (刚愎自用).
  • The leader's stubbornness led to failure (愎谏).
  • She has a willful personality (性格刚愎).
  • His perverse decisions caused problems (愎戾).

Collocations

  • Obstinate and self-willed(刚愎自用)
  • Stubborn advice(愎谏)
  • Willful and perverse(愎戾)
  • Stubborn nature(愎性)
  • Headstrong and opinionated(愎狠)
  • Unyielding character(愎强)

Idioms

  • Obstinate and self-opinionated(刚愎自用)
  • Stubborn and difficult to advise(愎谏违卜)
  • Willful and perverse(愎过自用)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used in classical Chinese to describe negative personality traits, particularly in leadership contexts.
  • Frequently appears in historical texts criticizing rulers or officials for refusing good counsel.
  • Considered a serious character flaw in Confucian ethics, which values humility and receptiveness to advice.

FAQ