頑固|がんこganko[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. na-adjective, nounstubborn; obstinate; pigheaded
   彼かれは性質せいしつが頑固がんこだ。↗

   He is obstinate in disposition.

• Synonym強情ごうじょうNeutralRefusing to soften and insisting on one's own views, as in 「強情を張る」. 「頑固」 more often describes an ingrained personality trait.
• Synonym一徹いってつNeutralFixating on one thing and never compromising, often with a nuance of single-minded devotion, as in 「一徹な職人」. Used less than 「頑固」.
• Synonym頑強がんきょうNeutralHolding firm to one's claims or position without giving in; also describes a sturdy body. It lacks the closed-minded slur that 「頑固」 carries.
• Synonym頑なかたくなNeutralStubbornly shutting out others' opinions and refusing to budge, as in 「頑なに拒む」. The focus is on keeping people at arm's length.
• Synonym意固地いこじNeutralSulking defiance—digging in one's heels out of spite; often as 「意固地になる」. 「頑固」 describes a consistent, unchanging stance as a character trait.
• Synonym意地っ張りいじっぱりCasualColloquial. A disposition, or a person, that likes to act tough and won't go back on what they've said, often with a somewhat childish feel.
• Synonym頑固一徹がんこいってつNeutralFour-character word: once decided, forcing it through to the end; also refers to such a person. Stronger in tone than 「頑固」.
• Related硬いかたいNeutralLiterally 'hard'; by extension a rigid mind, as in 「頭が固い」. 「頑固」 directly describes a stubborn character.
• Relatedきかぬ気きかぬきNeutralA willful streak of not listening or refusing to obey, mostly for children. 「頑固」 applies to anyone and can also describe a habit that won't go away.
• Related強情っ張りごうじょうっぱりCasualColloquial. A stubborn, unbudging nature or such a person; plainer and more casual in feel than 「頑固」.
• Related頑迷がんめいWrittenWritten/formal. Stubborn to the point of being blind to reason; strongly negative. 「頑固」 doesn't necessarily imply being unreasonable.
• Related狷介けんかいWrittenWritten/formal. Stubborn and aloof, not mixing with others; often for proud, solitary people. In daily speech say 「頑固」.
• Related固陋ころうWrittenWritten/formal. Clinging to old ideas and rejecting anything new. 「頑固」 doesn't necessarily imply being old-fashioned.
• Related片意地かたいじNeutralStubbornly forcing one's own way come what may; used less often. In everyday speech 「頑固」 or 「意地っ張り」 is more common.
• Related因業いんごうWrittenWritten/formal. For people, stubborn and cold-hearted, stressing harshness; also a Buddhist term for karma. Rare in modern use.
• Related偏屈へんくつNeutralA twisted, cantankerous temperament that's hard to get along with, as in 「偏屈な老人」. 「頑固」 focuses on refusing to change one's stance.
• Related頑迷固陋がんめいころうWrittenWritten/formal four-character word: wedded to one's own views and deaf to others'; strongly negative, mostly seen in writing.
• RelatedへんこWrittenWritten/formal. Narrow-minded and stubborn; rare today and heavily literary. 「頑固」 is all you need in daily life.
• Related情張りじょうはりCasualColloquial and rare: refusing to yield or take advice. In everyday speech 「頑固」 or 「意地っ張り」 works fine.
• Antonym柔軟じゅうなんNeutralAntonym: a flexible, adaptable mind, opposed to 「頑固」's inflexibility; also means physical suppleness.
• Antonym従順じゅうじゅんNeutralAntonym: obedient and unresisting, opposed to 「頑固」's refusal to listen; mostly describes a person's attitude.

Default to 「頑固」 for a stubborn character that won't change its stance, as in 「頑固親父」. For sulking defiance say 「意固地」; for shutting others out, 「頑な」. 「強情」「一徹」「意地っ張り」 are everyday near-synonyms, 「頑強」 is unyielding tenacity without the pigheaded slur, and the rest are literary, rare, or strongly negative. Opposites: 「柔軟」 (flexible thinking) and 「従順」 (obedient).

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

1. 他人たにんがどう言いおうと自分じぶんの態度たいどや考かんがえを変かえないこと。
2. 取り付とりついてなかなか離はなれないこと。
3. 病気びょうきなどがなかなか治なおらないこと。