How to Write 誙 (kēng) — Meaning “straight; stubborn”

Imagine a person speaking (言) with a stiff, unyielding neck like a straight line (巠 resembles a vertical line). This image of rigid speech helps you remember that 誙 means stubborn or straight.

Write the left radical 言 first with its three horizontal strokes, keeping them evenly spaced. The right part 巠 has two vertical strokes crossing a horizontal line; be careful not to make the upper '口' too wide, as the strokes should be compact for balance.

訾 (zǐ) means 'to slander' or 'to criticize' and has a 此 component on the right, while 詈 (lì) means 'to curse' or 'to scold' and has a 罒 (net) on top. In contrast, 誙 conveys stubbornness or straightforwardness, not insult or blame.

誙 is very rare in modern Chinese and not in the HSK list; it appears mostly in classical texts or idioms like 誙誙然 (stubbornly). It describes someone who speaks firmly or acts obstinately, often in a literary or formal context.

Common words containing 誙 include: 誙誙 (kēng kēng) — stubborn; sound of speech; 誙誙然 (kēng kēng rán) — stubbornly; firmly; 誙直 (kēng zhí) — upright; straightforward.