Meaning

Primary

To Catch Up With

Alternatives

To Overtake, To Keep Up With

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

To follow then attach yourself to the whoever you're following is to catch up with someone.

Reading

おいつく
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The readings are the ones you learned with the kanji, but you can also just notice that this word includes 追う and 付く combined.

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 中国に追い付く

    to catch up to China

    同点に追い付く

    to catch up to tie the score, to equalize the score

    日本に追い付く

    to catch up to Japan

Context Sentences

あと五分くらいで追い付くと思う。

I think I'll catch up in about five minutes.

100メートル走でクリステンに追い付くことができたらオリンピックに出られるよ。

If you can catch up with Kristen in the hundred meter dash, you can compete in the Olympics.

まだちょっと気持ちが追い付いてないんです。

I'm still trying to catch up emotionally a bit.

Kanji Composition