ついていく・ついて行く・付いて行くtsuiteiku[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. godan verb (irregular), intransitive verbto accompany; to follow; to keep up with
   我々われわれは時勢じせいに遅おくれずに付ついて行いかなければならない。↗

   We must keep up with the times.

• Synonym同行どうこうNeutralFormal-leaning: going along with someone, as in 「警察に同行する」. Unlike the headword, it has no sense of keeping up with a lesson or pace.
• Synonym同伴どうはんNeutralBringing someone along, as in 「夫人同伴」; stresses attending with a companion rather than following behind or keeping up.
• Synonym随行ずいこうNeutralFollowing as a member of someone's entourage, e.g. 「首相に随行する」; implies a subordinate status, not simply walking behind.
• Synonym伴うともなうNeutralBroader accompaniment: going along with someone, and also things coming with or arising alongside something else, as in 「危険を伴う」.
• Synonym従うしたがうNeutralChiefly to obey or comply, e.g. 「指示に従う」; it can mean following a person, but the emphasis is on deferring, not on the movement.
• Synonym随伴ずいはんWrittenWritten/formal prose for attending someone or for one thing occurring alongside another; also the mathematical term (adjoint).
• SynonymついてくるNeutralSame following, opposite direction: coming toward the speaker's side, as in 「犬がついてくる」 or 「私についてきて」.
• Synonym付き添うつきそうNeutralTo stay by someone's side to look after them, e.g. 「病人に付き添う」; the point is caring, not following their path.
• Synonym同道どうどうWrittenWritten and dated, rarely used: travelling the same road together. Close to 「同行」 in sense but far less common.
• Synonym陪従ばいじゅうWrittenArchaic written word for attending and serving a superior, found mostly in court contexts; in daily speech say 「お供」.
• Synonym随従ずいじゅうWrittenWritten: following someone's lead, with a nuance of playing second fiddle. It never covers keeping up with a pace.
• Related追いかけるおいかけるNeutralTo chase or run after, e.g. 「犯人を追いかける」; the focus is pursuing from behind rather than going along with someone.
• Related追うおうNeutralTo chase or pursue, also figuratively as in 「夢を追う」; common in both speech and writing, but it is chasing, not going along.
• Related追っかけるおっかけるCasualColloquial variant of 「追いかける」, as in 「アイドルを追っかける」; same chasing sense, casual speech.
• Related付き添いつきそいNeutralA noun for the person who accompanies and looks after someone, e.g. 「病院の付き添い」; an escort or carer, not the act of following.
• Related後続こうぞくNeutralWhat follows on behind, e.g. 「後続車」; stresses being at the back of a line rather than the act of accompanying.
• Related介添えかいぞえNeutralA helper who stays at someone's side, such as a bridesmaid at a wedding; the emphasis is on assisting and caring.
• Relatedお供おともNeutralGoing along as someone's companion, e.g. 「お供します」; humble when you offer it about yourself, whoever you accompany.
• Relatedご一緒ごいっしょFormalFormal honorific: doing something together, as in 「ご一緒してもいいですか」; a polite way to join someone.
• Related相伴うあいともなうWrittenWritten: to accompany one another, with the stress on two things or events occurring together at the same time.
• Related追行ついこうWrittenWritten and rare: going after someone, or carrying something out afterwards; not said in everyday conversation.
• Related追蹤ついしょうWrittenWritten word for tracking or tailing someone continuously; the pursuit need not be hostile. A chase, not accompaniment.
• Antonym離れるはなれるNeutralAntonym: to leave or part from someone or something, the opposite of following along behind.
• Antonym先行するNeutralAntonym: to go ahead or take the lead, moving in front instead of following behind.

Use 「ついて行く」 for following someone or keeping up, as in 「授業についていけない」. For formal accompanying choose 「同行」; for staying beside someone to care for them, 「付き添う」 or 「付き添い」; for chasing, 「追いかける」 or 「追う」. Offer 「お供」 as a humble way to say you will go along, and 「ご一緒」 politely when asking to join. 「付いてくる」 is for coming toward the speaker's side. Opposites: 「離れる」, 「先行する」; the written or rare terms seldom fit daily speech.

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

1. 他ほかの人ひとや物ものと一緒いっしょに移動いどうする。後うしろから同おなじ道みちを歩あゆむ。