cứng cựa
Definition
- Adjective (colloquial):
- Stubbornly unyielding; obstinate: Describes a person who is rigidly inflexible, refuses to give in, or will not concede to others in an argument or conflict.
- Tough; resilient: Can describe someone who is strong-willed, hardy, or difficult to defeat or subdue.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Thằng bé rất cứng cựa, bảo mãi không nghe. (The boy is very stubborn; he won't listen no matter how much you tell him.)
- Đối thủ của anh ta khá cứng cựa, không dễ bị đánh bại. (His opponent is quite tough and not easy to defeat.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is informal and often carries a slightly vulgar or blunt connotation, implying a frustrating level of obstinacy.
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.
- Unyielding: not giving way to pressure; inflexible.
- Hard-nosed: realistic, practical, and uncompromising.
Related Idioms
- While "cứng cựa" itself is an idiomatic expression, it is sometimes used in similar contexts to:
- Cứng đầu cứng cổ: (literally "hard-headed, hard-necked") an idiom meaning extremely stubborn and disobedient.
- Nó cứng đầu cứng cổ lắm, đừng có nói. (He's extremely pig-headed; don't bother talking to him.)