1.
to cling to, to embrace tightly, to throw one's arms around
To grab hold of someone or something tightly with both arms. Implies a sudden or emotional embrace, often out of joy, fear, or affection.
子供が母親に抱きついた。
The child clung to their mother.
久しぶりに会って、思わず抱きついてしまった。
We met after a long time, and I couldn't help but throw my arms around them.
怖い映画を見ていたら、彼女が隣の友達に抱きついた。
While watching a scary movie, she grabbed onto the friend next to her.
CONJUGATION:
Godan verb (五段動詞), く-ending.
- Negative: 抱きつかない
- Polite: 抱きつきます
- Te-form: 抱きついて
- Past: 抱きついた
USAGE:
抱きつく implies a sudden, somewhat impulsive embrace — driven by emotion (joy, relief, fear). It takes the particle に for the person or thing being clung to. Compare with 抱きしめる, which means "to hold tightly in one's arms" and implies a more deliberate, sustained embrace.
PARTICLE PATTERN:
- [person]に抱きつく: to cling to / throw one's arms around [person]
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 思わず抱きつく: to impulsively embrace
- しがみつくように抱きつく: to cling desperately