Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 고집이 세다 | gojibi seda | |
| 고지식하다 | gojisikhada | [ko̞d͡ʑiɕʰikʰa̠da̠] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
The phrase is used to describe someone who refuses to move or change their opinion. If you wish to use a noun to refer to a 'stubborn person', which is often used playfully or affectionately for children, you can use 고집쟁이.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 고집이 세다 literally translates to 'stubbornness is strong', where 고집 means stubbornness and 세다 means to be strong.
Which one should you use?
While 고집이 세다 describes someone who refuses to change their mind (often negatively), 고지식하다 describes someone who is overly principled, blunt or lacks flexibility in a way that is often seen as being too 'by the book'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 고집이 세다 functions as an adjective phrase in a sentence and is often used with the particle '-어서' to explain a reason, such as 고집이 세서… (Because they are stubborn…).
How do you pronounce it?
gojibi seda
Did you know?
- The modern form of 고지식하다 was actually created through a linguistic mistake called hypercorrection. People forgot the original word and incorrectly applied the common suffix '-하다' to it, changing the word's shape entirely.
- The word 세다 used in the phrase 고집이 세다 has multiple meanings in Korean, including 'to count' or 'to be intense'. In this context, it specifically describes the intensity of the person's opinion.
Examples in context
- 그는 고집스러운 사람이다.He is a stubborn person.
- 저는 제가 잘못했다는 것을 인정하고 싶지만, 너무 고집스러워서 못하겠어요.I want to admit that I was wrong, but I am too stubborn to do it.
- 지금 그럴 때 아니야, 고집불통아!Now is not the time for that. Don't be so stubborn!
- 언제까지나 같은 말을 반복하고 있어, 고집불통 같은 놈이야.You keep repeating the same thing all the time. You're such a stubborn person.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stubborn” translations and entries 고지식하다, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 고지식하다, 세다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
