Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Obstinate and quarrelsome; prickly and contentious: Describes a personality or attitude that is stubborn, difficult, and prone to picking fights or arguments. It implies a combative and unyielding nature.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ta có tính cách rất gai ngạnh, luôn muốn tranh cãi với mọi người. (He has a very obstinate and quarrelsome personality, always wanting to argue with everyone.)
  • Đừng có thái độ gai ngạnh như vậy, hãy lắng nghe ý kiến của người khác. (Don't have such a prickly and contentious attitude; listen to others' opinions.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe a persistently difficult or defiant character:
  • Sự gai ngạnh của cậu bé ấy khiến giáo viên rất đau đầu. (The boy's obstinacy and quarrelsome nature give the teacher a big headache.)
  • Bản chất gai ngạnh ấy không giúp anh ấy hòa nhập được với tập thể. (That prickly and contentious nature doesn't help him integrate with the group.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gai góc (adj): Literally "thorny"; used figuratively to describe a difficult, challenging, or complex situation or person. It can overlap with 'gai ngạnh' in describing a tough character but is less focused on the quarrelsome aspect and more on general difficulty or resilience.
  • Cô ấy là một nhân vật gai góc trong làng báo chí. (She is a tough/prickly figure in journalism.)
• Cứng đầu (adj): Stubborn, obstinate, headstrong. A close synonym for the stubborn aspect of 'gai ngạnh' but without the strong connotation of being quarrelsome.
  • Đứa trẻ cứng đầu không chịu nghe lời. (The stubborn child refuses to listen.)

Synonyms

• Bướng bỉnh: Stubborn, obstinate.
• Ngang ngạnh: Wilful, defiant, obstinate.
• Hay gây sự: Quarrelsome, looking for a fight.

Related Idioms

• Cứng như đá / Cứng đầu cứng cổ: (As hard/stubborn as a rock / Hard-headed and stiff-necked): An idiom emphasizing extreme stubbornness, similar to the core meaning of 'gai ngạnh'.
  • Nó cứng đầu cứng cổ, chẳng chịu tiếp thu điều gì. (He is incredibly stubborn and refuses to learn anything.)

1. Obstinate and quarrelsome