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Japanese Versatility List

Following and chasing

Core words, Stage 3chunk 2 of 76Verbs: moving

Follow, tag along, approach, chase or spot someone.

Mix-ups tsuite kuru (follow me) and tsuite iku (I'll go with you) flip on direction, like kuru and iku.

tsuite kuru

polite tsuite kimasu

follow (me); come along (with me)

Movement toward the speaker; you going along with someone is tsuite iku.

Also 'comes with' for extras: omake ga tsuite kuru (it comes with a freebie).

casual

michi wakaru kara, tsuite kite.

I know the way, follow me.

道分かるから、ついてきて。

polite

michi ga wakarimasu kara, tsuite kite kudasai.

I know the way, so please follow me.

道が分かりますから、ついてきてください。

Written ついてくる · ついてきますRank #1860 in 3,030 TV dramas

tsuite iku

polite tsuite ikimasu

go along with, follow; keep up

Movement away from the speaker: you go with someone.

tsuite ikenai = can't keep up (with a class or the pace).

casual

watashi mo tsuite itte ii?

Can I come along too?

私もついていっていい？

polite

watashi mo tsuite itte mo ii desu ka?

May I come along too?

私もついていってもいいですか？

Written ついていく · ついていきますRank #2834 in 3,030 TV dramas

chikazuku

polite chikazukimasu

approach, get close

The thing approached takes ni.

Also for time drawing near: shiken ga chikazuite kita (the exam is coming up).

casual

ano inu ni chikazukanai hou ga ii yo.

Better not go near that dog.

あの犬に近づかない方がいいよ。

polite

ano inu ni wa chikazukanai hou ga ii desu yo.

You'd better not go near that dog.

あの犬には近づかない方がいいですよ。

Written 近づく · ちかづく · 近づきますRank #866 in 3,030 TV dramas

oikakeru

polite oikakemasu

chase, run after

Also chasing a dream: yume o oikakeru.

casual

kinou, inu ni oikakerareta n da yo!

A dog chased me yesterday!

昨日、犬に追いかけられたんだよ！

polite

kinou, inu ni oikakeraremashita.

I was chased by a dog yesterday.

昨日、犬に追いかけられました。

Written 追いかける · おいかける · 追いかけますRank #1775 in 3,030 TV dramas

mikakeru

polite mikakemasu

happen to see, spot, come across

Also for things you see around: saikin yoku mikakeru ne (you see those a lot lately).

casual

kinou, eki de tanaka-san mikaketa yo.

I saw Tanaka at the station yesterday.

昨日、駅で田中さん見かけたよ。

polite

kinou, eki de tanaka-san o mikakemashita yo.

I happened to see Mr Tanaka at the station yesterday.

昨日、駅で田中さんを見かけましたよ。

Written 見かける · みかける · 見かけますRank #1870 in 3,030 TV dramas