Meaning and Usage
"追い付く" (おいつく) means "to catch up" or "to overtake" someone or something that is ahead. It is commonly used in both physical contexts, like running or driving, and abstract contexts, such as catching up with work or studies.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "追い付く" when talking about catching up with a group, schedule, or progress. It implies that the speaker was behind but has now reached the same level or position.
Collocations and Patterns
- 追い付く + に (e.g., スケジュールに追い付く): to catch up with a schedule or plan.
- 追い付けない: unable to catch up, often expressing difficulty or stress.
- 追い付くために: used to express the purpose of catching up, often followed by effort or action verbs.
Register and Nuance
"追い付く" is neutral and can be used in both casual and formal situations. It is a useful verb for expressing progress or competition.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "追い付く" with "追い越す" (おいこす), which means "to overtake" in the sense of passing someone ahead. "追い付く" focuses on reaching the same point, while "追い越す" means going beyond that point.