ming5 waan4 bat1 ling4冥頑不靈冥顽不灵
Jyutpingming5 waan4 bat1 ling4
Yalemíhng wàahn bāt lìhng
Definition
Stubborn and unwilling to listen to advice or change one's behavior.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong sense of frustration and disapproval, often used when someone repeatedly ignores sound advice. It implies a deep-seated, almost irrational resistance to change rather than just simple disobedience. Because it is a formal four-character idiom, using it in casual conversation adds a sharp, critical emphasis to the speaker's annoyance.
Examples
He is always stubborn and refuses to listen to anything.
Related words
Common phrases
a stubborn person who refuses to listen
Common mistake
Learners often use this to describe someone who is simply shy or quiet, but it specifically refers to someone who is actively rejecting guidance or correction. It is much stronger than just being stubborn or 固執.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
