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固执 (gù zhi) — stubborn, obstinate

Definition

固执 is a negative judgment — calling someone inflexible and unwilling to listen. Unlike 执着 (often praising dedication) or 坚定 (a firm, positive stance), 固执 always carries a critical tone.

adjective
stubbornobstinate

Examples

  • 固执，。
    Nǐ tài gù zhi le, tīng bú jìn bié rén de huà.
    You're too stubborn; you won't listen to others.
  • 固执，。
    Bié nà me gù zhi, huàn gè jiǎo dù xiǎng xiǎng.
    Don't be so stubborn; think from another perspective.
  • 固执。
    Tā gù zhi de xìng gé ràng jiā rén hěn tóu téng.
    His stubborn character gives his family a headache.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

固gùstubborn
执zhícling

固 (stubborn) and 执 (clinging) reinforce each other to mean obstinate.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
囗囗wéi
Sound part声符shēngfú
古
古gǔ固gù
Same sound today

固 combines 囗, which relates to the meaning, with 古, which gives the sound.

Open 固 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 執; 执 is its simplified writing.

  • 㚔㚔㚔criminal / handcuffs
  • 丮丮jǐhand

The traditional form 執 shows 㚔, a handcuffed criminal, with 丮, a hand, giving the idea of arrest. The simplified 执 is a later shorthand, so its current parts are not the original pieces.

Open 执 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Personality & Traits

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