How to say "follow" in Japanese

• フォローCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe borrowed word, used chiefly for following an account or person on social media; it also covers following up on or covering for someone, senses the native verbs do not express.
• 従うしたがうJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbFollow in the sense of obeying or going along with: orders, laws, rules, customs, advice, or a leader. The default choice when 'follow' means compliance.
  善良ぜんりょうな市民しみんは法律ほうりつに従したがう。↗

  A good citizen obeys the laws.
• 次ぐつぐJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbRarely about the act of following: it describes one thing coming after another in sequence, or ranking just below something — the 'come after' and 'rank next' senses of 'follow'.
  きれい好すきは敬神けいしんに次つぐ美徳びとく。↗

  Cleanliness is next to godliness.
• たどるJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTo follow a physical route such as a road, path, or coastline, and by extension to trace a trail, a history, or memories; usually written in kana alone.
  森もりの中なかの小道こみちを辿たどっていくのは楽たのしいことだ。↗

  It's fun to follow the path through the woods.
• 準ずるじゅんずるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb (-zuru), intransitive verbTo conform to or be based on a rule, precedent, or standard; unlike 従う, it suggests treating something as the model to follow, and is typical of formal writing such as laws and regulations.

Use 「フォロー」 for social-media follows, 「従う」 for obeying rules, laws, or people, 「次ぐ」 for coming after in sequence, 「たどる」 for following a physical path, and 「準ずる」 for conforming to a standard.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• フォローfollow
• 従うしたがうto obey (an order, law, etc.)
• 次ぐつぐto follow
• たどるto follow (a road, path, etc.)
• 準ずるじゅんずるto follow (a rule, precedent, etc.)
• 聞き取るききとるto catch (someone's words)
• 伝うつたうto go along
• ならうto imitate
• わかるto understand
• 準じるじゅんじるto follow (a rule, precedent, etc.)
• ついてくるto follow
• ついていくto accompany
• つぐto succeed (a person, to a position, etc.)
• 則るのっとるto follow (a rule, precedent, style, etc.)
• なぞるto trace (drawing)
• 付き従うつきしたがうto follow
• 付け回すつけまわすto follow
• 付け回るつけまわるto follow
• 尾けるつけるto follow (someone)
• 後を追うあとをおうto follow
• 具するぐするto accompany
• 跡をつけるあとをつけるto tag along
• ついていけるto keep in pace with
• 具すぐすto accompany
• 追うおうto follow (a set order, a trend, etc.)
• 沿うそうto follow (a policy, plan, etc.)
• 歩むあゆむto tread (a figurative path)
• 慕うしたうto follow (someone)
• 付するふするto follow (the leader)
• 守るまもるto keep (i.e. a promise)
• 見守るみまもるto watch intently
• 付すふすto follow (the leader)
• 奉ずるほうずるto obey
• 奉じるほうじるto obey
• 聞くきくto follow (advice, order, etc.)
• つけるto follow (someone)
• 乗るのるto follow
• うけるto follow
• 付くつくto accompany
• 続くつづくto come after
• 踏むふむto follow (rules, principles, etc.)