追いつく

• Reading: おいつく
• Romaji: oitsuku
• Kanji breakdown: 追 (oi/tsui) — chase, pursue
• Pronunciation: /o.i.tsɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

To catch up; to overtake. Reaching the same level or position as someone ahead.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb from 追い (oi, chasing) + つく (tsuku, to arrive/reach). Conjugates as 追いつか/追いつき/追いつく/追いつけ/追いつこう. Used for physical chasing, academic progress, and figurative competition. Often paired with に to mark the target. The opposite is 追い越す (oikosu, to surpass).

Examples

1. 走って先に行った友達に追いついた。 I ran and caught up with the friend who went on ahead.
2. 日本語の勉強でクラスメートに追いつきたい。 I want to catch up with my classmates in Japanese studies.
3. 技術の進歩に追いつくのは大変だ。 It's hard to keep up with the pace of technological progress.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, academics, competition

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound verb of 追う (ou, to chase/pursue) and つく (tsuku, to arrive/attach). Literally 'chasing until arrival' — reaching someone or something that was ahead.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal