追い越す|おいこすoikosu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto pass (e.g. car); to overtake
    うさぎはかめに追い越おいこされた。↗
    The hare was outdistanced by the tortoise.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto surpass; to outstrip; to get ahead of; to outdistance
Conjugation
Dictionary form追い越す(おいこす)
Polite (masu)追い越します(おいこします)
Negative (nai)追い越さない(おいこさない)
polite (masen)追い越しません(おいこしません)
classical zu / nu追い越さず・追い越さぬ(おいこさず・おいこさぬ)
Past (ta)追い越した(おいこした)
polite (mashita)追い越しました(おいこしました)
Past negative (nakatta)追い越さなかった(おいこさなかった)
polite (masen deshita)追い越しませんでした(おいこしませんでした)
Te form追い越して(おいこして)
Potential追い越せる(おいこせる)
Passive追い越される(おいこされる)
Causative追い越させる(おいこさせる)
Causative passive追い越させられる(おいこさせられる)
Conditional (ba)追い越せば(おいこせば)
tara追い越したら(おいこしたら)
Volitional追い越そう(おいこそう)
polite (mashou)追い越しましょう(おいこしましょう)
Imperative追い越せ(おいこせ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym追い抜くおいぬくNeutralCatching up with and passing someone; also used for surpassing someone in ability or results. Largely interchangeable with 「追い越す」.
  • Synonym追い越しおいこしNeutralA noun for overtaking, as in 「追い越し禁止」; seen mostly on traffic signs.
  • Synonym抜き去るぬきさるNeutralTo overtake and leave someone far behind; mostly in reports of races, motor racing, etc.
  • Related抜くぬくNeutralPrimarily means to pull out or extract, but also to pass a rival, as in 「前の車を抜く」; a very versatile word.
  • Related通り過ぎるとおりすぎるNeutralMeans to go past or pass by; carries no competitive sense of overtaking the other party.
  • Antonym遅れるおくれるNeutralTo fall behind or be late; the opposite of 「追い越す」, which is about getting ahead.

To catch up from behind and pass, use 「追い越す」; it is basically interchangeable with 「追い抜く」. 「追い越し」 appears on traffic signs, 「通り過ぎる」 for simply passing by, and 「遅れる」 for falling behind.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 後あとから来きた者ものが先行せんこうしていた者ものを抜ぬいて前まえに出でる。道路交通法どうろこうつうほうでは車線しゃせんを変かえて前まえに出でること。
  2. 下位かいであった者ものが上位じょういであった者ものを越こえて上うえになること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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