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倔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
juècrabbyHSK 7, a, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #18706, Hard
juètoughHSK 7, a, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #18706, Hard
juèstubborn, obstinate, intransigent; firmHSK 7, a, 10 strokes, radical 亻, rank #18706, Hard
juè(jue4) T2
  1. 1crabby
  2. 2tough
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

juè(jue4)

The character 倔 (jué) describes a personality trait characterized by stubbornness or obstinacy. It is often used to convey a sense of being tough or unyielding, whether in attitude or behavior. This term is typically applied in informal contexts to describe individuals who refuse to change their opinions or actions despite external pressures.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#18706DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being described as 倔 can reflect a strong-willed character, often admired in contexts such as business or leadership, where resilience is valued. However, excessive stubbornness may be viewed negatively in social interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a crab (the animal associated with being crabby) that refuses to leave its shell. The character 倔 resembles a stubborn creature, combining the radical for 'person' (亻) on the left with 'cut' (切) on the right, symbolizing a tough nature that won't budge easily.

Meanings of 倔

juè(jue4)
1crabby
2tough
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 倔

Simplified
10Strokes
Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#18706Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 倔

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AI Study Notes for 倔

Quick Contrast

倔 (jué) vs 固执 (gùzhí) — use 倔 for a more informal or colloquial tone, while 固执 carries a more formal or serious connotation.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a crab (the animal associated with being crabby) that refuses to leave its shell. The character 倔 resembles a stubborn creature, combining the radical for 'person' (亻) on the left with 'cut' (切) on the right, symbolizing a tough nature that won't budge easily.

Usage Notes

When using 倔, it’s important to be mindful of the tone and context; it can come off as rude if misapplied in formal settings. Common collocations include 倔脾气 (jué píqì, 'stubborn temperament'), and learners should ensure the second tone is not confused with the first when pronouncing it.

HSK Study Tips

While 倔 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance comprehension of expressions related to personality traits. Students at this level should focus on adjacent terms that describe moods or behaviors, such as 急 (jí, 'impatient') or 固执 (gùzhí, 'stubborn').

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being described as 倔 can reflect a strong-willed character, often admired in contexts such as business or leadership, where resilience is valued. However, excessive stubbornness may be viewed negatively in social interactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 倔 with similar-sounding words and mispronounce it as 'juǐ', which changes the meaning entirely. Always remember to emphasize the second tone (jué) when using this character.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 倔

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Etymology of 倔

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

Someone 亻 who does not bend 屈; 屈 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 倔?

Decomposition of 倔

IDS Structure⿰亻屈
Full Character
=
ren2
left
Qu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 倔?

Write 倔

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 倔

倔 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高,not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

严肃、严谨、____强的他同时又冷漠、多疑、敏感、不会变通。

Formal, exact and obstinate, he was also cold, suspicious, touchy and tactless.

Example Sentences for 倔 (3)

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1
严肃、严谨、倔强的他同时又冷漠、多疑、敏感、不会变通。

yán sù、 、 yán、 jǐn 、 jué qiáng de tā tóng shí yòu、 lěng mò、 、 duō、 yí 、 mǐn gǎn。

Formal, exact and obstinate, he was also cold, suspicious, touchy and tactless.
2
难道你还不了解那个矮人的倔强 吗 ?

nán dào nǐ huán bù le jiě nà gè ǎi rén de jué qiáng?

Have you learned nothing of the stubbornness of Dwarves?
3
阿丑甭着头,鼓着嘴,表示倔强不服.

ā chǒu béng zháo tóu, , gǔ zháo, zuǐ , biǎo shì jué qiáng.

Ah Chou cocked his head to one side and puffed out his cheeks in defiance.

Cultural Notes for 倔

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, being described as 倔 can reflect a strong-willed character, often admired in contexts such as business or leadership, where resilience is valued. However, excessive stubbornness may be viewed negatively in social interactions.

Word Family of 倔

Words Containing This Character2
倔强juéjiàngstubborn倔強
juècrabby
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 倔强 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 倔

While both terms mean 'stubborn', 倔 often implies a tougher, more aggressive demeanor, while 固执 can be more neutral, simply describing someone who is set in their ways.