追

• Pinyin: zhuī
• Hanzi breakdown: 追 = 辶 (movement radical) + inner phonetic component, indicating pursuit through motion

Meaning

To chase; to pursue; to follow. The act of running after or striving to reach someone or something.

Versatile verb used for physically chasing someone, pursuing a romantic interest (追女孩/追男孩), following a TV series (追剧), or striving for goals (追求). Also used in 追问 (follow up with questions) and 追踪 (track). Very common in both casual and formal speech.

Examples

1. 小狗在公园里追着一只蝴蝶跑。 The puppy was chasing a butterfly around the park.
2. 你最近在追什么电视剧？ What TV series have you been following recently?
3. 他跑得太快了，我追不上他。 He runs too fast; I can't catch up with him.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, entertainment, romance, sports

Tone: active

Do Say

• 别追了，你追不上公共汽车了。(Stop chasing, you can't catch the bus.)
• 我最近在追一部很好看的剧。(I've been following a really good show recently.)

Don't Say

• 我追了那本书。(Don't use 追 for reading a book — 追 implies following ongoing content like series or shows; for books, use 看 or 读)

Origin & History

Originally a pictophonetic character: 辶 (walk/movement radical) indicates motion, with the inner component providing the phonetic value.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal