Ways to say it
| Vietnamese | IPA |
|---|---|
| bướng bỉnh | [ʔɓɨəŋ˧˦ ʔɓïŋ˧˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓɨəŋ˦˧˥ ʔɓɨn˧˨] (Huế, narrow) |
| ngoan cố | [ŋwaːn˧˧ ko˧˦] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ŋwaːŋ˧˧ kow˨˩˦] (Huế, narrow) |
| lì lợm | [li˨˩ ləːm˧˨ʔ] (Hà Nội, narrow) [lɪj˦˩ ləːm˨˩ʔ] (Huế, narrow) |
| bảo thủ | [ʔɓaːw˧˩ tʰu˧˩] (Hà Nội, narrow) [ʔɓaːw˧˨ tʰʊw˧˨] (Huế, narrow) |
The term bướng bỉnh is a neutral way to describe someone who refuses to change their opinion or move. For example, you would use bướng bỉnh to describe a child who refuses to listen to their parents.
Which one should you use?
While bướng bỉnh is a general term, other forms have specific nuances. Ngoan cố is much stronger and more negative, often used when someone stubbornly refuses to admit guilt or follow the law. Lì lợm is a colloquial term describing someone who is tough, unyielding or thick-skinned, often in a physical or mental sense. Bảo thủ is a formal term used specifically for someone who is stubborn about maintaining old ways of thinking or resisting change, similar to being conservative. Additionally, cứng đầu means hard-headed and ngang ngạnh is another way to describe stubbornness.
Did you know?
- In some contexts, being lì lợm can be a compliment when referring to a person's persistence in the face of extreme hardship or sports. It transforms 'stubborn' into 'tenacious'.
- While bướng bỉnh describes a person's attitude, the related term cứng đầu literally translates to having a 'hard head'.
- The word lì lợm is a reduplication, meaning the second part lợm is a rhythmic partner to the root word lì to add emphasis and flavor.
Examples in context
- Tôi không ngoan cố như Tom.I'm not as stubborn as Tom.This sentence uses ngoan cố to compare levels of stubbornness.Tatoeba #8997845 by dotheduyet1999, translation #6730760 by CK
- Tôi thấy rằng bạn cũng bướng bỉnh như tôi.I see that you're as stubborn as I am.This sentence uses bướng bỉnh to observe a person's stubbornness.Tatoeba #11432324 by chaule3, translation #4134500 by CK
- Cậu này cứng đầu lắm, không ai thuyết phục nổi.This guy is so stubborn, no one can persuade him.
- Đứa trẻ này thật bướng bỉnh.This child is very stubborn.
Example conversation
Mai and Nam are talking about a difficult client.
- MaiKhách hàng đó rất bướng bỉnh.That client is very stubborn.
- NamAnh ấy không chịu nghe ý kiến của chúng ta.He refuses to listen to our opinions.
- MaiNam ơi, cậu có thể giúp tớ không?Nam, can you help me?
- NamĐược chứ, tớ sẽ thử nói chuyện với anh ấy.Sure, I will try to talk to him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “stubborn” translations and entries bướng bỉnh, ngoan cố, lì lợm, bảo thủ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
