Today’s Word: obstinate

April 10, 2018    =========

☆  obstinate  頑固な

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If you think someone is obstinate, you have a negative image of them because they are determined to do what they want and refuse to change their mind or be persuaded to do something else. Other words with a similar meaning are: stubborn, inflexible, pig-headed, self-willed, strong-minded, and willful. These words all have a negative nuance to them.

On the other hand, when you think that someone being obstinate is a good thing, you can use words like determined, persistent or tenacious. I was once described as tenacious, and at the time, I thought it was just like being stubborn or obstinate, so I was offended! Ha ha. When I later learned that being tenacious was a positive thing, I was no longer offended. Sometimes it’s important to check the nuance – even for native speakers!

Bye,

Chris