Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Headstrong, stubborn, self-willed: Describes a person, typically a child or young person, who is difficult to advise, teach, or manage because they are determined to do things their own way and resist guidance or authority.
   • Disobedient, recalcitrant: Refers to someone who is unwilling to obey rules or follow instructions.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Thằng bé mới mười bốn tuổi mà khó bảo quá. (The boy is only fourteen but already very headstrong.)
  • Con gái tôi đang ở tuổi dậy thì nên hơi khó bảo. (My daughter is in her teenage years so she's a bit difficult to manage.)
  • Đừng có khó bảo như vậy, hãy nghe lời người lớn. (Don't be so stubborn; listen to your elders.)

Advanced Usage

• "cứng đầu cứng cổ khó bảo": An intensified phrase meaning "stubborn as a mule" or "extremely headstrong."

  • Nó cứng đầu cứng cổ khó bảo lắm, chẳng nghe ai. (He's as stubborn as a mule and doesn't listen to anyone.)

• "tính khí khó bảo": Refers to a headstrong or difficult temperament.

  • Cô ấy có tính khí khó bảo từ nhỏ. (She has had a headstrong temperament since she was little.)

Variants and Related Words

• Khó dạy (adj): Difficult to teach; often used interchangeably with "khó bảo" but can emphasize a learning context.

  • Đứa trẻ này rất khó dạy. (This child is very difficult to teach.)

• Bướng bỉnh (adj): Stubborn, obstinate. A close synonym, often with a stronger negative connotation.

  • Thái độ bướng bỉnh của nó khiến mọi người bực mình. (His obstinate attitude annoys everyone.)

• Cứng đầu (adj): Literally "hard-headed"; stubborn.

  • Anh ta cứng đầu lắm, không chịu thay đổi ý kiến. (He is very hard-headed and refuses to change his opinion.)

Synonyms

• Ngoan cố: Obstinate, stubborn (often used in a more formal or serious context).
• Ỷ lại: Willful, self-willed.
• Khó nói: Difficult to talk to (in the sense of being unpersuadable).

Related Phrases

• Khó bảo khó dạy: A common paired phrase emphasizing both being difficult to advise and to teach.
  • Đến tuổi này, bọn trẻ thường khó bảo khó dạy. (At this age, children are often both headstrong and difficult to teach.)

Related Idioms

• "Đầu bò đầu bướu": A colloquial idiom meaning "stubborn as an ox."
  • Nó đầu bò đầu bướu khó bảo lắm. (He's as stubborn as an ox and very difficult to manage.)

1. Headstrong, self-illed
   • Thằng bé mới mười bốn tuổi mà khó bảo quá
     The boy is only fourteen but already very self-illed