- Basic forms
- 追う — to chase; pursue / base form
- 追います — (I) chase; pursue / masu form
- 追った — chased; pursued / ta form
- 追って — chase and … / te-form
- 追わない — do not chase / negative form
- 追えば — if (you) chase / conditional
- 追え — chase! / imperative
- Other common forms
- 追いたい — want to chase / 〜たい form
- 追える — can pursue; can chase / potential
- 追えた — was able to chase / past potential
- 追えない — cannot chase / negative potential
- More
- 夢を追う — to pursue a dream
- 犯人を追った — chased the suspect
- 責任を追われている — is being pressed with responsibility / progressive (passive nuance)
追う(おう) is a godan verb ending in う. Used both literally (to chase someone) and figuratively (to pursue goals, tasks, or responsibilities).
- 追加 — addition, supplement
- 追求 — pursuit (of truth, ideals)
- 追跡 — tracking, pursuit
- 追放 — expulsion, exile
- 追突 — rear-end collision
More examples - tap to expand
- 追試 — makeup exam
- 追憶 — recollection, reminiscence
- 追悼 — mourning, tribute
- 追随 — following, emulation
Compound Verbs - tap to expand
- 追い付く — to catch up with
- 追い越す — to overtake; to pass
- 追い払う — to drive away; to disperse
追 combines the 辶 (しんにょう: movement/running) radical with the phonetic ⻌ and ヨ (yo). It captures the idea of moving forward to follow or catch up with something or someone.
