1.
to follow around, to stalk, to pester
To persistently follow someone around in an unwanted or annoying way.
知らない人に付きまとわれた。
I was followed around by a stranger.
しつこく付きまとう男に困っている。
I'm troubled by a man who persistently follows me around.
子犬が飼い主に付きまとって離れない。
The puppy follows its owner around and won't leave.
2.
to cling to, to haunt, to persistently accompany
Used for abstract things like bad luck, anxiety, or rumors that persistently stay with someone.
不安が付きまとう。
Anxiety clings to me.
失敗の記憶がいつまでも付きまとった。
The memory of failure haunted me endlessly.
あの事件の噂が彼にずっと付きまとって、新しい生活を始められなかった。
Rumors about that incident clung to him, and he couldn't start a new life.
CONJUGATION:
- 付きまとわない（否定）
- 付きまといます（丁寧）
- 付きまとって（て形）
- 付きまとった（過去）
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- しつこく付きまとう: to pester, to follow persistently
- 不安が付きまとう: anxiety clings
- 噂が付きまとう: rumors follow someone
USAGE: Almost always carries a negative connotation of something unwanted. In sense 1 (physical following), it can describe stalking behavior. In sense 2 (abstract clinging), the subject is typically something negative.