頑な・頑|かたくなkatakuna

1. na-adjectiveobstinate; stubborn; mulish; die-hard; bigoted

• Synonym頑固がんこNeutralThe everyday default: refusing to change one's stance; also for stubborn habits or ailments that won't go away. 「頑な」 mostly describes attitudes and states of mind.
• Synonym強情ごうじょうNeutralInsisting on one's own views and refusing to soften; often in 「強情を張る」. Compared with 「頑な」, it stresses actively holding out.
• Synonym一徹いってつNeutralOnce set on something, refusing to bend; often carries a nuance of single-minded devotion, as in 「老いの一徹」. 「頑な」 leans toward shutting others out.
• Synonym意固地いこじNeutralSuggests digging in out of pique, like sulking, and refusing to give way; often in 「意固地になる」. 「頑な」 focuses on stiffly rejecting others' opinions.
• Synonym意地っ張りいじっぱりCasualColloquial: a temperament of refusing to budge out of pride or spite; also such a person. 「頑な」 mostly describes attitudes.
• Synonym片意地かたいじNeutralStubbornly doing things one's own way no matter what; used less often. In daily speech 「意地っ張り」 or 「頑固」 is more usual.
• Synonym頑固一徹がんこいってつNeutralA four-character compound: once decided, stubbornly seeing a thing through to the end; also such a person. Stronger in tone than 「頑な」.
• Synonym頑迷がんめいWrittenStubborn and unable to see reason; strongly pejorative and mostly in written/formal prose. 「頑な」 stresses rejecting others, not necessarily being unreasonable.
• Synonym偏屈へんくつNeutralA perverse, cranky temperament that is hard to get along with; stresses an odd, twisted personality. 「頑な」 stresses clinging to one's views and rejecting others.
• Synonym頑迷固陋がんめいころうWrittenA four-character compound in written/formal prose: clinging to one's own views and deaf to others' opinions, strongly pejorative. In everyday speech 「頑固」 is enough.
• SynonymへんこWrittenNarrow-minded and stubborn; rare in modern usage and heavily literary. In daily speech use 「頑固」 or 「頑な」.
• Related頑強がんきょうNeutralHolding fast to one's position or a defensive line without easily yielding; also describes a sturdy body. 「頑な」 covers only stubbornness of mind and attitude.
• Relatedきかぬ気きかぬきNeutralA willful streak of not listening to advice or obeying; mostly used of children. 「頑な」 describes a closed attitude that shuts others out.
• Related狷介けんかいWrittenWritten/formal prose: stubbornly holding to one's views while keeping aloof from others; often describes proud, solitary people. 「頑な」 stresses a stiff attitude.
• Related強情っ張りごうじょうっぱりCasualColloquial: a stubborn, unyielding temperament or such a person; more down-to-earth in flavor than 「強情」.
• Related固陋ころうWrittenWritten/formal prose: clinging to old ideas and rejecting anything new; stresses being old-fashioned and narrow. 「頑な」 does not necessarily involve old versus new.
• Related情張りじょうはりCasualColloquial and rare: refusing to yield and ignoring others' advice. In everyday speech 「意地っ張り」 or 「強情」 is more usual.

Use 「頑な」 for a stiff, closed-off attitude that shuts out others' opinions, as in 「頑なに拒む」. For everyday stubbornness of character, 「頑固」 is the default; 「意固地」 suits a sulky refusal to give in, 「頑迷」 stubbornness that ignores reason. Colloquial picks are 「意地っ張り」 and 「強情っ張り」; 「強情」 (often 「強情を張る」) stresses actively holding out. In writing, 「頑迷固陋」, 「固陋」 and 「偏固」 are strongly pejorative, and 「狷介」 fits proud, aloof people. 「頑強」 also covers physical toughness; 「きかぬ気」 is for willful children.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. （かたくな）頭あたまが固かたく、他人たにんの考かんがえを拒こばむ様子ようす。