Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== yī gēn jīn: 一根筋 - One-Track Mind, Stubborn, Single-minded ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** yī gēn jīn meaning, yi gen jin, 一根筋 in English, stubborn in Chinese, one-track mind Chinese, inflexible Chinese slang, Chinese idiom for stubbornness, how to use yī gēn jīn * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **一根筋 (yī gēn jīn)**, a popular Chinese term used to describe someone with a "one-track mind." This page breaks down its literal meaning of "one single tendon" to explain why it perfectly captures the essence of being stubborn, inflexible, and single-minded. Learn its cultural nuances, how it's used in everyday conversation in China, and how to avoid common mistakes when describing someone's personality. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yī gēn jīn * **Part of Speech:** Adjective / Noun * **HSK Level:** N/A * **Concise Definition:** To be single-minded, stubborn, and mentally inflexible. * **In a Nutshell:** Imagine a tendon in your body. It's strong and has a set direction. Now, imagine a person's brain working like a single, unbending tendon—that's **一根筋**. This term vividly describes someone who thinks in a straight line, unable to adapt, compromise, or see things from another perspective. They get stuck on one idea and can't be swayed, for better or for worse. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **一 (yī):** The number "one" or "single." * **根 (gēn):** A measure word for long, thin objects. It can mean "root" or "stick," but here it's best understood as a measure word for a strand or fiber. * **筋 (jīn):** "Tendon" or "sinew." When combined, **一根筋 (yī gēn jīn)** literally translates to "one single tendon." This powerful metaphor creates the image of a mind that is not a complex, flexible network, but a single, taut cord. It cannot be bent, twisted, or re-routed, perfectly capturing the essence of mental rigidity. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In a culture that highly values social harmony, flexibility (`灵活 - línghuó`), and emotional intelligence (`情商 - qíngshāng`), being described as **一根筋** is generally not a compliment. It implies a lack of social grace and an inability to "read the room" or consider the feelings and opinions of others. It suggests a person who will plow ahead with their own logic, regardless of the social consequences. A useful Western comparison is the idea of being "principled" or "single-minded." In the West, single-minded dedication to a goal (e.g., an artist or entrepreneur) can be seen as a great virtue. While **一根筋** can sometimes describe this persistence, it almost always carries a negative undertone of being foolishly, and often counter-productively, obstinate. The Western phrase "sticking to your guns" can be heroic; being **一根筋** is more like refusing to acknowledge that the battle has changed. It's the difference between admirable determination and frustrating bullheadedness. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **一根筋** is a highly common, informal term used in everyday conversation. You'll hear it used between friends, family members, and colleagues. * **Mostly Negative Connotation:** The most frequent usage is as a mild criticism or complaint. It's what you say when you're frustrated with someone who just won't listen to reason or consider a different approach. It implies they are not just stubborn, but also a bit simple or naive in their thinking. * **Neutral or Self-Deprecating:** Someone might describe themselves as **一根筋** to explain their own stubborn nature in a self-aware, sometimes humorous way. In this context, it's an admission of a personal flaw. * **Rarely Positive Connotation:** In very specific situations, it can be used to describe someone's unwavering, simple dedication to a task or a craft. It paints them as a purist, unconcerned with distractions. Even then, it suggests their dedication comes from a place of simplicity rather than strategic focus. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 你别跟他争了，他就是个**一根筋**，说不通的。 * Pinyin: Nǐ bié gēn tā zhēng le, tā jiùshì ge **yī gēn jīn**, shuō bu tōng de. * English: Stop arguing with him. He's just got a **one-track mind**; you can't reason with him. * Analysis: This is the classic usage—a frustrated complaint about someone's stubbornness. It implies that further discussion is pointless. * **Example 2:** * 我承认我有时候是**一根筋**，认准了就不想改。 * Pinyin: Wǒ chéngrèn wǒ yǒushíhou shì **yī gēn jīn**, rènzhǔn le jiù bùxiǎng gǎi. * English: I admit I can be a bit **single-minded** sometimes; once I've decided on something, I don't want to change. * Analysis: A good example of self-deprecation. The speaker is acknowledging their own inflexibility as a personality trait. * **Example 3:** * 我老板太**一根筋**了，完全不接受我们的新建议。 * Pinyin: Wǒ lǎobǎn tài **yī gēn jīn** le, wánquán bù jiēshòu wǒmen de xīn jiànyì. * English: My boss is so **stubborn**; he completely refuses to accept our new suggestions. * Analysis: Used here to describe an inflexible authority figure. The connotation is highly negative, suggesting the boss's rigidity is hindering progress. * **Example 4:** * 他对技术的追求很**一根筋**，除了代码什么都不关心。 * Pinyin: Tā duì jìshù de zhuīqiú hěn **yī gēn jīn**, chúle dàimǎ shénme dōu bù guānxīn. * English: His pursuit of technology is very **single-minded**; he doesn't care about anything besides code. * Analysis: This is a more neutral, almost positive usage. It describes a focused passion, similar to calling someone a "purist." It still hints at a lack of breadth, but frames it as a result of deep focus. * **Example 5:** * 这个小孩怎么这么**一根筋**？非要那个红色的玩具。 * Pinyin: Zhège xiǎohái zěnme zhème **yī gēn jīn**? Fēi yào nàge hóngsè de wánjù. * English: Why is this child so **stubborn**? He insists on having that red toy. * Analysis: A common way to describe a child who is being obstinate and cannot be reasoned with or distracted. * **Example 6:** * 你不能这么**一根筋**地处理问题，要学会变通。 * Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng zhème **yī gēn jīn** de chǔlǐ wèntí, yào xuéhuì biàntōng. * English: You can't be so **rigid** in handling problems; you need to learn to be flexible. * Analysis: Here, **一根筋** is used adverbially to describe a way of doing things. The sentence offers advice, directly contrasting this trait with the desirable quality of flexibility (`变通`). * **Example 7:** * 他这个人做事就是**一根筋**，让他去搞外交肯定不行。 * Pinyin: Tā zhège rén zuòshì jiùshì **yī gēn jīn**, ràng tā qù gǎo wàijiāo kěndìng bùxíng. * English: His way of doing things is just too **inflexible**; he would definitely be terrible at diplomacy. * Analysis: This example connects the trait to a specific skill set. It highlights that being **一根筋** is a major disadvantage in fields that require nuance and social tact. * **Example 8:** * 我就是**一根筋**，我觉得这个方法是对的，我就会一直做下去。 * Pinyin: Wǒ jiùshì **yī gēn jīn**, wǒ juéde zhège fāngfǎ shì duì de, wǒ jiù huì yīzhí zuò xiàqù. * English: I'm just a **stubborn person**. If I think this method is right, I will keep doing it. * Analysis: This shows a defiant, almost proud use of the term. The speaker is framing their stubbornness as a form of conviction. * **Example 9:** * 他在感情上很**一根筋**，爱上一个人就很难改变。 * Pinyin: Tā zài gǎnqíng shàng hěn **yī gēn jīn**, ài shàng yīgè rén jiù hěn nán gǎibiàn. * English: He is very **single-minded** when it comes to relationships; once he falls in love with someone, it's hard for him to change. * Analysis: Describes emotional inflexibility. This could be seen as loyal and devoted (positive) or as hopelessly stuck and unable to move on (negative), depending on the context. * **Example 10:** * 别劝了，我爸的**一根筋**你又不是不知道。 * Pinyin: Bié quàn le, wǒ bà de **yī gēn jīn** nǐ yòu bùshì bù zhīdào. * English: Stop trying to persuade him. It's not like you don't know how **stubborn** my dad is. * Analysis: Here, **一根筋** is used as a noun ("my dad's stubbornness"). This is a very natural, colloquial way to use the term when talking about a well-known character trait. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Mistake 1: Confusing `一根筋` with positive persistence.** * A common mistake for learners is to use **一根筋** to praise someone's determination. While a **一根筋** person is certainly persistent, the word emphasizes their *inability to change*, not their strength of will. * **Incorrect:** 他为了目标奋斗了十年，真**一根筋**！(He fought for his goal for 10 years, so single-minded!) -> This sounds like you're calling him foolishly stubborn. * **Correct:** To express positive admiration, use `执着 (zhízhuó)` or `有毅力 (yǒu yìlì)`. * Ex: 他对目标很**执着**。(He is very dedicated to his goal.) * **Mistake 2: Using it in formal situations.** * **一根筋** is slang. It's perfect for chatting with friends but completely inappropriate for a business report, a formal speech, or a respectful discussion about an elder you don't know well. In formal contexts, use `固执 (gùzhí)` for "stubborn." * **False Friend: "One-track mind"** * While "one-track mind" is a good starting translation, in English it often has a specific connotation of someone being obsessed with a single topic (e.g., "He has a one-track mind; all he talks about is money."). **一根筋** is broader. It describes a rigid *process* of thinking, not necessarily a fixation on one subject. It's about *how* you think (inflexibly) rather than *what* you think about. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[固执]] (gùzhí) - The more formal, standard word for "stubborn" or "obstinate." **一根筋** is the colloquial version. * [[死心眼]] (sǐxīnyǎn) - Literally "dead heart-eye." A very similar, informal term for someone who is hopelessly stubborn and not open to new ideas. * [[认死理]] (rèn sǐlǐ) - "To recognize a dead principle." Describes someone who clings to a rigid line of reasoning and refuses to be pragmatic. Almost a synonym. * [[钻牛角尖]] (zuān niújiǎojiān) - "To drill into a bull's horn." To get bogged down in irrelevant details; a specific type of **一根筋** behavior focused on minutiae. * [[执着]] (zhízhuó) - Persistent, dedicated. This is the positive counterpart to **一根筋**, emphasizing determination without the negative connotation of inflexibility. * [[灵活]] (línghuó) - Flexible, agile. The direct antonym. * [[圆滑]] (yuánhuá) - Smooth, slick, socially tactful. The behavioral opposite of someone who is **一根筋**. * [[情商]] (qíngshāng) - EQ (Emotional Quotient). A person described as **一根筋** is often considered to have low `情商`.