obstinate
Definitions
Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.
固执的，顽固的。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedob- (against, in the way) + stin (a form of st, 'stand') = 'to stand firm against.' Latin obstināre meant to set one's mind firmly, to dig in. An obstinate person plants their feet and refuses to be moved, standing in the way of any change.
Root st still carries 376 more wordsWhy It Means This
Obstinate shares its image with 'stand': it's someone who has taken a stand and won't budge. The ob- (against) gives it the negative shade — not admirable firmness but pig-headed resistance. Compare destination, where st-'s 'stand' becomes a fixed end-point.
Common Collocations
- 1.obstinate refusal顽固的拒绝
- 2.obstinate resistance顽强的抵抗
- 3.stubbornly obstinate顽固不化
Example Sentences
- 1.
He was too obstinate to admit he had made a mistake.
- 2.
The negotiations stalled over one side's obstinate refusal.
- 3.
Despite all advice, she remained obstinate.
Synonym Comparison
- obstinate — stubborn in a way that frustrates others; implies unreasonable resistance
- stubborn — the everyday word for refusing to change; neutral to mild
- headstrong — willful, determined to do things one's own way
- persistent — keeps going (positive); about effort, not refusal
- inflexible — unwilling to compromise or adapt, often about rules/positions