狷介不羈(けんかいふき)

Today’s Yojijukugo is 狷介不羈 (けんかいふき).

Definition	Literal Translation	English Meaning
自分の意志を守り通し、何者にも束縛されないこと。	Keeping on protecting your own will and not be bound by anybody	Stubbornly sticking to one’s own convictions

Japanese definition from the official Kanji Kentei Yojijukugo Dictionary

• Composition:
  • 狷介 (けんかい): 狷 means “short-tempered” and 介 means here “to protect, to be hard”. As a result, the combination means “obstinate”. You could see it as a person who “works hard at staying short-tempered”.
  • 不羈 (ふき): 羈 means “connection” or “restraint”. By combining it with the negative 不, it transforms into its opposite: “freedom” or “independence”.

• Notes:
  • 介 can have other meanings in words like 紹介する (to introduce) or 介護 (caregiving). In these cases, its underlying meaning is “mediate” or “concern oneself”
  • This Yojijukugo isn’t commonly used anymore although the Kanji Kentei requires knowing it.

• Example:
  • 東海林さんは狷介不羈で、社会で住むのが向いてないようです。
  • しょうじさんはけんかいふきで、しゃかいですむのがむいてないようです。
  • Since Shouji-san stubbornly sticks to his own convictions, living in society doesn’t seem to fit him.

This Yojijukugo is part of the Kanji Kentei Level 1 (一級) and doesn’t have a synonym.

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狷介不羈の性格を変えて、楽しい人生を生きたほうがいいでしょう！