Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Stubborn; obstinate: Describes a person, especially a child or young person, who is uncooperative, refuses to listen to advice or authority, and insists on having their own way.
   • Self-willed; recalcitrant: Implies a defiant and unyielding attitude, often resisting guidance or discipline.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Đứa trẻ đó rất ương ngạnh, không chịu nghe lời bố mẹ. (That child is very stubborn and refuses to listen to his parents.)
  • Tính ương ngạnh của học sinh này khiến giáo viên rất phiền lòng. (The recalcitrant nature of this student troubles the teacher greatly.)
  • Nó ương ngạnh, không chịu nhận lỗi của mình. (He is being obstinate and won't admit his own mistake.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a nuance of youthful defiance or immature stubbornness. It is frequently used to describe the difficult behavior of children, teenagers, or young adults who are in a phase of resisting authority.

Variants and Related Words

• Bướng bỉnh (adj): stubborn, disobedient (a very close synonym).
• Ngang ngạnh (adj): headstrong, defiantly stubborn.
• Cứng đầu (adj): hard-headed, obstinate.

Synonyms

• Stubborn: Having or showing dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position.
• Obstinate: Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or chosen course of action.
• Recalcitrant: Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.
• Self-willed: Determined to have one's own way.

Related Idioms

• While "ương ngạnh" itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, the behavior it describes is central to phrases like:
  • Cứng như trâu: As stubborn as a buffalo (a common simile for extreme stubbornness).
  • Bướng như la: Stubborn as a mule.

adj

1. stubborn; seft-willed