1.
game of tag; game of chase
A children's chasing game, or any reciprocal chasing activity. Formed from 追いかける (to chase) + the suffix っこ that turns the verb into a playful reciprocal action.
公園で追いかけっこをした。
We played tag in the park.
子犬と追いかけっこをして遊んだ。
I played chase with the puppy.
兄弟二人は庭を走り回って追いかけっこをしている。
The two siblings are running around the yard playing tag.
Verb + っこ is a productive pattern forming reciprocal/competitive activity nouns (にらめっこ} staring contest, {取りっこ tug-of-war for an item, etc.). Has a childlike, casual feel.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 追いかけっこをする: to play tag
- 追いかけっこをして遊ぶ: to play chase
FIGURATIVE USE:
Can describe a back-and-forth competitive situation: 売上の追いかけっこ (a sales race between competitors), 首位争いの追いかけっこ (a race for first place).
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 鬼ごっこ: tag (with a designated 'it'/鬼) — a specific named version of 追いかけっこ