# 頑 — stubborn

頑 means “stubborn”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 13 strokes. On'yomi: ガン (gan). Kun'yomi: かたく(な) (katakuna). You'll see it in words such as 頑な (katakuna, “obstinate; stubborn”).

- Meaning: stubborn
- On'yomi: ガン (gan)
- Kun'yomi: かたく(な) (katakuna)
- Strokes: 13
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Feelings 2

## How to remember 頑

Sounds like 元: both read ガン.

Parts: 元 origin · 頁 head; page

## Words with 頑

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 頑な | かたくな (katakuna) | obstinate; stubborn |
| 頑として | がんとして (gantoshite) | stubbornly; firmly |

## Don't confuse it with

[頃](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/around-a-time/) · [順](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/sequence/) · [項](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/item/) · [須](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/must/)

## More in the “Feelings 2” set

[懇](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/cordial/) · [驚](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/surprise/) · [趣](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/charm/) · [慰](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/comfort/) · [魅](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/fascination/) · [孤](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/orphan/) · [頑](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/stubborn/) · [誇](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/boast/) · [慢](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/arrogance/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/stubborn/. Last updated 2026-11-01.