追う（おう）
JLPT N4 · Godan verb (Group 1)
Pitch accent: heiban (flat) — starts low, stays high, no drop
Meaning: to chase / pursue
Conjugation
| Form | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| masu-form (polite) | 追います | おいます |
| te-form | 追って | おって |
| ta-form (past) | 追った | おった |
| nai-form (negative) | 追わない | おわない |
| potential form | 追える | おえる |
See the full conjugation table for "追う" →
Example sentences
- 犬がボールを追って走る。 — The dog runs chasing after the ball.
- 流行を追うより、自分を大切にする。 — Rather than chasing trends, I value being true to myself.
Idioms & proverbs containing “追う”
- 鹿を追う者は山を見ず (しかをおうものはやまをみず) — zeal is a bad servant; the person who chases a deer does not see the mountain
- 二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず (にとをおうものはいっとをもえず) — if you run after two hares you will catch neither
- 人の蠅を追うより己の蠅を追え (ひとのはえをおうよりおのれのはえをおえ) — take care of yourself before you take care of others; wave off your own flies before you wave off someone else's flies
- 二兎を追う (にとをおう) — to chase after two hares; to try and do two things at the same time
- 背中を追う (せなかをおう) — to walk behind someone
- 白球を追う (はっきゅうをおう) — to play (baseball, softball, etc.)
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “追う” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)