jat1 ji3 gu1 hang4一意孤行
Definition
To cling obstinately to one's course; to stubbornly insist on doing things one's own way regardless of advice.
How it's used
Carries a strong negative connotation, implying that the person is not only stubborn but also reckless or arrogant in ignoring sound advice. It is typically used to describe someone in a position of power or someone making a significant, potentially disastrous decision. Unlike simple stubbornness, this phrase suggests a deliberate choice to disregard the collective wisdom or warnings of others.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a simple adjective describing a stubborn person, but it functions more like a verb phrase describing an action or a decision. It is not used to describe a personality trait in general, but rather a specific instance of someone acting against advice.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
