頭(あたま)が固(かた)い

あたまがかたい
expression
stubborn, inflexible, rigid in thinking
1. stubborn, inflexible, set in one's ways
Describes someone who is unwilling to accept new ideas or change their way of thinking.
うちの父(ちち)は頭(あたま)が固(かた)い。
My father is set in his ways.
頭(あたま)が固(かた)い上司(じょうし)で困(こま)っている。
I'm having trouble with my inflexible boss.
そんなに頭(あたま)が固(かた)いことを言(い)わないで。
Don't be so rigid about it.
頭(あたま)が固(かた)いと、新(あたら)しい考(かんが)え方(かた)が入(はい)ってこない。
If you're inflexible, new ways of thinking won't get through to you.
若(わか)いのに頭(あたま)が固(かた)くて、いつも「前(まえ)からこうだった」と言(い)う。もう少(すこ)し柔軟(じゅうなん)に考(かんが)えてほしい。
Despite being young, he's rigid and always says 'that's how it's always been.' I wish he'd think more flexibly.

STRUCTURE: 頭(あたま) (head) + が + 固(かた)い (hard). Literally 'one's head is hard' - implying thoughts can't get through or change.

ANTONYM: 頭(あたま)が柔(やわ)らかい (flexible in thinking, open-minded)

RELATED EXPRESSIONS:

  • 頑固(がんこ) (stubborn) - more general stubbornness
  • 融通(ゆうずう)が利(き)かない (inflexible, unbending)
  • 保守的(ほしゅてき) (conservative)

CONTRAST:

  • 頭(あたま)が固(かた)い: unwilling to change thinking
  • 頭(あたま)がいい/悪(わる)い: intelligence (smart/not smart)
  • 石頭(いしあたま) (stone head) - even stronger criticism of stubbornness

NUANCE: Often used critically, implying the person should be more open-minded.

Related Words

Antonym: 頭(あたま)が柔(やわ)らかい (flexible)
Related: 頑固(がんこ) (stubborn)
core
Added 2026.1.18 19:03 · Revised 2026.3.14 21:17
06500/06893_atamagakatai