gàn bát sách
Definition
- Adjective:
- Extremely stubborn and foolish; obstinate to the point of being unreasonable: This term describes a person who is not just stubborn ("gàn") but also foolishly and rigidly adheres to their own ways or ideas, ignoring all reason or advice. It implies a level of foolish obstinacy that is difficult to deal with.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Ông ấy gàn bát sách, chẳng ai khuyên bảo được. (He is extremely stubborn and foolish; no one can advise him.)
- Đừng có gàn bát sách mà không nghe lời khuyên của mọi người. (Don't be so obstinately foolish as to ignore everyone's advice.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "gàn bát sách" is a strong, colloquial expression. It is often used in informal speech to express frustration with someone's unreasonable stubbornness. It carries a negative connotation and should be used with caution.
Variants and Related Words
- Gàn (adj): Stubborn, obstinate. This is the root word, indicating a lesser degree of stubbornness without the strong connotation of foolishness.
- Anh ta hơi gàn một chút. (He is a bit stubborn.)
- Cố chấp (adj): Obstinate, dogmatic. A more formal synonym for being stubbornly attached to an opinion.
- Thái độ cố chấp của anh ấy thật khó chịu. (His obstinate attitude is really annoying.)
- Ngoan cố (adj): Recalcitrant, unyielding. Often used for someone who stubbornly resists authority or change.
- Kẻ tội phạm tỏ ra rất ngoan cố. (The criminal was very recalcitrant.)
Synonyms
- Cứng đầu cứng cổ (idiom): Literally "hard-headed and stiff-necked," meaning very stubborn.
- Bảo thủ (adj): Conservative, resistant to change. Can imply stubbornness in clinging to old ways.
Notes on Meaning
- The term "gàn bát sách" is a compound phrase where "gàn" means stubborn/foolish and "bát sách" intensifies the meaning, suggesting something is set, rigid, or unchangeable (like a book's fixed pages). Together, they form an idiom describing extreme, foolish obstinacy. It is important to explain and use it as a single, fixed phrase.