verb HSK 4
to chase · to pursue · to run after · to seek
Meaning
追 means to chase or pursue something or someone. It can refer to physical chasing (running after someone), pursuing goals or dreams, seeking romantic interest, or following up on matters. The character shows the action of moving quickly after something.
Usage
Commonly used in contexts ranging from literal chasing (追小偷 - chase a thief) to abstract pursuits (追求理想 - pursue ideals) to romantic contexts (追女孩 - court a girl). Often combined with other characters to form compound verbs like 追求, 追赶, 追问.
Examples
- 01警察在后面追那个小偷。.The police are chasing that thief from behind.
- 02他一直在追求自己的音乐梦想。.He has been pursuing his dream of music all along.
Common collocations
- 追求梦想to pursue one's dreams
- 追问to question closely, to press for answers
- 追星to be a fan of celebrities, to follow stars
- 追尾rear-end collision
Antonyms
Origin
The character 追 combines the radical 辶 (movement) with 㠯, suggesting the idea of moving after or following something.