刚愎自用 (gāng bì zì yòng) — stubborn and opinionated; self-willed; obstinate

Definition

A formal idiom for someone stubbornly clinging to their own ideas and refusing others' input — stronger and more literary than plain '固执' or '顽固'. Used to criticize leaders or decision-makers whose self-will harms results.

idiom
stubborn and opinionatedself-willedobstinate

Examples

  • 刚愎自用，。
    Tā zhè ge rén gāng bì zì yòng, tīng bú jìn bié rén de yì jiàn.
    He is so stubborn and opinionated that he won't listen to others' advice.
  • 刚愎自用。
    Lì shǐ shàng hěn duō gāng bì zì yòng de jūn zhǔ zuì zhōng dōu shī bài le.
    Many self-willed monarchs in history ultimately failed.
  • 刚愎自用，。
    Zài gōng zuò zhōng rú guǒ gāng bì zì yòng, hěn nán yǔ tuán duì hé zuò.
    If you are willfully stubborn at work, it's hard to cooperate with the team.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

刚愎stubborn
刚gānghard愎bìstubborn
联合Side by side
自用self-willed
自zìoneself用yònguse
偏正Modifier + head

刚愎 and 自用 both convey obstinacy: 刚 and 愎 mean hard and stubborn, while 自 and 用 mean using one's own judgment.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 剛; 刚 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 剛 was made by combining a picture-like sign with a sign that gave its sound; the simplified 刚 is a later shorthand.

Open 刚 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.