頑
Mnemonic
At the beginning of book club, everyone flipped to page one — except one stubborn member who slammed the book shut. "I already know everything!" he growled. No matter how many pages others read aloud, that stubborn fool refused to follow along, arms crossed.
Additional thoughts
Picture a red-faced man at a table of readers, his book defiantly closed at the very first page. Beginning (元) + Page (頁) = someone who won't budge past the starting line. The rigidity of never turning a single page captures that pigheaded refusal to learn or change.Quick recall
From the beginning, he won't turn a single page — hopelessly stubborn.Details
The keyword for 頑 is stubborn. This kanji conveys the idea of being obstinate, unyielding, or hardheaded, referring to someone who refuses to change their mind or behavior regardless of circumstances. It carries connotations of rigidity and inflexibility, sometimes extending to meanings of being tough, durable, or tenacious. The character can also imply a certain foolish stubbornness or pigheadedness that resists reason or persuasion.
- On'yomi
- がん
- Kun'yomi
- かたく.な