追っかける・追っ掛ける|おっかけるokkakeru[4]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
追っかける追っかける（おっかける） is the more common written form, and beginners should use it. It is written with kanji and kana.
追っ掛ける追っ掛ける is a less common variant of 追っかける and is rarely used; learners will usually find 追っかける the more practical form to write.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto chase; to run after; to pursue
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 追っかける（おっかける） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 追っかけます（おっかけます） |
| Negative (nai) | 追っかけない（おっかけない） |
| polite (masen) | 追っかけません（おっかけません） |
| classical zu / nu | 追っかけず・追っかけぬ（おっかけず・おっかけぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 追っかけた（おっかけた） |
| polite (mashita) | 追っかけました（おっかけました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 追っかけなかった（おっかけなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 追っかけませんでした（おっかけませんでした） |
| Te form | 追っかけて（おっかけて） |
| Potential | 追っかけられる（おっかけられる） |
| Passive | 追っかけられる（おっかけられる） |
| Causative | 追っかけさせる（おっかけさせる） |
| Causative passive | 追っかけさせられる（おっかけさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 追っかければ（おっかければ） |
| tara | 追っかけたら（おっかけたら） |
| Volitional | 追っかけよう（おっかけよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 追っかけましょう（おっかけましょう） |
| Imperative | 追っかけろ（おっかけろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym追いかけるおいかけるNeutralThe standard way to say chase; 「追っかける」 is its colloquial form, and it also covers chasing idols, as in 「アイドルを追っかける」.
- Synonym追うおうNeutralA broader verb: it covers chasing and pursuing, and can also mean driving someone or something out.
- Synonym猛追もうついWrittenA written-style noun for hot, all-out pursuit, often in a race or contest, as in 「猛追する」.
- Synonym追跡ついせきWrittenA formal noun for tracking or pursuit, as in 「追跡調査」; use it for official or systematic chasing.
- Synonym後追いあとおいNeutralA noun for imitating others or jumping on a trend, and for a toddler clinging along behind someone.
- Synonym追求ついきゅうWrittenA written noun for the pursuit of interests or ideals, as in 「利益の追求」; it leans toward goals one seeks rather than chasing someone down.
- Synonym窮追きゅうついWrittenRare written noun for the plight of being hounded until no escape is left; to describe what the pursuer does, use 「追い詰める」.
- Related追い詰めるおいつめるNeutralMeans to corner someone—chasing until they have nowhere left to run, as in 「犯人を追い詰める」.
- Related尾行びこうWrittenA written noun for secretly tailing someone, as a detective would, with the emphasis on going undetected.
- Related追い求めるおいもとめるNeutralA verb for seeking after something one wants, typically abstract goals such as ideals and dreams; the focus is longing pursuit rather than a physical chase.
- RelatedフォローNeutralA loanword for following on social media or following up on something; in filming it can mean a moving tracking shot.
- Related追行ついこうWrittenA written, little-used noun for pursuit; in everyday language say 「追跡」 instead.
- Related追蹤ついしょうWrittenA rare, old-fashioned written variant meaning tracking or pursuit; avoid in everyday speech.
- Antonym逃げるにげるNeutralThe opposite of chasing: to run away or flee, as in 「犯人が逃げる」.
- Antonym避けるさけるNeutralThe opposite of pursuit: to avoid or dodge, as in 「人目を避ける」.
Use 「追っかける」 for colloquial chasing or chasing idols, as in 「犯人を追っかける」; the standard word is 「追いかける」. For secret shadowing say 「尾行」, for formal tracking 「追跡」, for pursuing ideals 「追い求める」, and for fleeing 「逃げる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
