ついていく
ついていく
godan verb
to follow; to keep up with
1.
to follow; to go along with
To physically follow someone or go along with them.
私についてきてください。
Please follow me.
犬が飼い主についていった。
The dog followed its owner.
2.
to keep up with; to keep pace with
To maintain the same pace or level as someone or something, whether physically, intellectually, or in a conversation.
授業についていけない。
I can't keep up with the class.
みんなの話が速くてついていけなかった。
Everyone was talking so fast that I couldn't keep up.
彼の歩くスピードが速くて、ついていくのが大変だった。
He walked so fast that it was hard to keep up with him.
ついていく is a compound verb from 付く (to attach/follow) + 行く (to go).
TRANSITIVITY:
- Intransitive (自動詞)
- Pattern: [person]に ついていく
ASPECT (ている):
- ついていっている: in the process of following
COMMON PATTERNS:
- ～についていく: to follow someone
- ～についていける: can keep up with
- ～についていけない: can't keep up with (very common)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- ついていく vs. ついてくる: ついていく means to follow (going away); ついてくる means to follow (coming toward the speaker).
- ついていく vs. 従う: 従う means to obey or comply; ついていく is physical or metaphorical following.