石頭(いしあたま)

いしあたま
noun
stubborn person; hardhead; inflexible thinker
informalcolloquialpersonalityperson
1. stubborn person; hardhead; inflexible thinker
Literally "stone head." Describes a person who will not budge from established rules or opinions, however reasonable the argument against them. Mildly insulting but often used half-jokingly.
うちの父(ちち)は石頭(いしあたま)だ。
My father is a hardhead.
そんな石頭(いしあたま)では話(はなし)が進(すす)まない。
We'll get nowhere with someone that stubborn.
規則(きそく)どおりでないと許(ゆる)さない石頭(いしあたま)の担当者(たんとうしゃ)に当(あ)たってしまった。
I ended up dealing with an inflexible official who wouldn't allow anything outside the rules.

Usage

Normally used of another person, in casual speech; calling someone 石頭(いしあたま) to their face is blunt. It can also describe a literally hard skull, but the figurative sense is far more common.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 頑固(がんこ): stubborn — the neutral, everyday word; can be affectionate
  • 石頭(いしあたま): emphasizes an inability to think flexibly, not just refusal to yield
  • 融通(ゆうずう)が利(き)かない: unable to make exceptions — describes the behavior rather than the person

Related Words

Compare: 頑固(がんこ) (stubborn)
Compare: 頭(あたま)が固(かた)い (stubborn, inflexible, rigid in thinking)
general
Added 2026.8.13 9:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
30500/30599_ishiatama