JLPT N3 · Verb

追う (ou)

追う (おう, ou) is a Japanese verb meaning “to chase; to run after”. It appears in JLPT N3 vocabulary lists and is marked as a common word in JMdict.

Reading: おう
Romaji: ou
Word class: Godan verb (う-verb) ending in う
Level: JLPT N3 (unofficial)

Meaning

to chase; to run after; to pursue; to follow after · godan verb, transitive
to follow (a set order, a trend, etc.) · godan verb, transitive
to drive out; to get rid of; to oust; to expel · godan verb, transitive
to drive (e.g. a herd) · godan verb, transitive
to be pressed (e.g. for time) · godan verb, transitive · in passive voice

Example sentences

その警官は泥棒を追っていた。

The policeman was after the thief.

Tatoeba #211194

エイズ調査の分野におけるすべての変化を追い続けることはできない。

I can't keep track of all the changes taking place in the world of AIDS research.

Tatoeba #228030

カウボーイが牛を牧草地へ追っていく。

A cowboy is driving cattle to the pasture.

Tatoeba #226445

Sentences from the Tatoeba project, linked to this word in JMdict.

Conjugation of 追う

Godan verb (う-verb) ending in う. Plain and polite forms below; try any other word in the Japanese verb conjugator.

Form	Japanese	Reading
Dictionary	追う	おう ou
Polite (~masu)	追います	おいます oimasu
Negative	追わない	おわない owanai
Polite negative	追いません	おいません oimasen
Past	追った	おった otta
Polite past	追いました	おいました oimashita
Negative past	追わなかった	おわなかった owanakatta
Te-form	追って	おって otte
Potential	追える	おえる oeru
Passive	追われる	おわれる owareru
Causative	追わせる	おわせる owaseru
Volitional	追おう	おおう oou
Imperative	追え	おえ oe
Conditional (~ba)	追えば	おえば oeba

Kanji in 追う

chase, drive away, followツイ・お.う · 9 strokes

Related words

Other vocabulary sharing a kanji with 追う.

追い付くおいつくto catch up (with)追加ついかaddition追い越すおいこすto pass (e.g. car)追いかけるおいかけるto chase追及ついきゅうinvestigation (e.g. into someone's guilt)追跡ついせきchase追放ついほうexile追い込むおいこむto herd追い出すおいだすto expel

Source: JMdict entry 1432410 (EDRDG, CC BY-SA 4.0). Level: unofficial JLPT list – how levels are assigned.