crooked, twisted, distorted, perverted, cross
拗 centers on something being physically or metaphorically bent out of shape: crooked, twisted, distorted, or perverted. The sense of 'cross' (as in cross-grained or contrary) extends naturally from stubborn twistedness.
拗 combines 扌 (hand) with 幼, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of bending or twisting something small and delicate. The exact historical development is uncertain.
A hand 扌 twisting a young, delicate thread 幼 until it becomes crooked and distorted.
For オウ, imagine a crooked old oak tree that has been twisted by the wind: oak -> オウ, and its branches are all bent out of shape.
insistent; obstinate; persistent; tenacious
persistent; obstinate; tenacious; relentless; insistent; importunate; persevering; stubborn
complications; tangle
to be peevish; to sulk; to pout
to get complicated; to grow worse; to turn sour
to curve; to twist; to be rebellious
perverse individual; cynic; misanthrope
to make worse (e.g. disease); to aggravate; to complicate
to aggravate; to complicate; to make worse
contracted sound; palatalised sound (e.g. Japanese morae with small kana); palatalized sound
contracted sound