How to say "pursuit" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 追求ついきゅうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe pursuit of a goal, ideal, or something sought after, such as happiness or profit. This is the word for abstract, purposeful pursuit rather than physically chasing anything.
- 追撃ついげきnoun, suru verb, transitive verbSpecifically the pursuit of a fleeing enemy, often with a follow-up attack. It belongs to military, combat, or sports contexts and is not the word for chasing goals or people in general.
- 追跡ついせきsuru verb, transitive verb, no-adjectiveThe physical chase, pursuit, tracking, or stalking of a moving target, such as a suspect or a car. Choose this for literal, ongoing chasing rather than the pursuit of goals.
- 探求たんきゅうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbA search, quest, or pursuit in an investigative or intellectual sense, such as the search for truth or knowledge. Close to 追求 but leans toward seeking and exploring rather than striving.
- 追っかけおっかけnounAn informal chase or pursuit of a person. In practice it is most familiar as the word for fans who chase after celebrities, so it is seldom the neutral word for pursuit.
Use 追求 for pursuing goals or ideals, 探求 for quests or searching after something abstract, 追跡 for chasing or tracking, 追撃 for pursuing a fleeing enemy, and 「追っかけ」 for informal chasing.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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