Four verbs meaning "to pursue": 追う, 追いかける, 追っかける and 辿る


Consider the following four verbs:

  * 追う【おう】 - _ou_ ([view in jisho.org](http://jisho.org/word/%E8%BF%BD%E3%81%86))
  * 追いかける【おいかける】 - _oikakeru_ ([view in jisho.org](http://jisho.org/word/%E8%BF%BD%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%91%E3%82%8B))
  * 追っかける【おっかける】 - _okkakeru_ ([view in jisho.org](http://jisho.org/word/%E8%BF%BD%E3%81%A3%E3%81%8B%E3%81%91%E3%82%8B))
  * 辿る【たどる】 - _tadoru_ ([view in jisho.org](http://jisho.org/word/%E8%BE%BF%E3%82%8B))

**They all can mean "pursue". What are their differences?**

* * *

_Note: I did read their definitions and tried to catch some nuances by myself,
but I am not sure about them. My thoughts was that the first three seem to
carry an idea of a chase that requires effort, while the fourth allows an
"easy" pursue, such as following a hyperlink on the internet. But even if this
guess is correct, the difference between the first three verbs would remain
unknown._




辿る is closer to "to trace (a road, a wire, etc)" and it does not mean "to
chase". 追っかける is just a colloquial variation of 追いかける.

追う and 追いかける are _mostly_ interchangeable. The primary meaning of 追う and 追いかける
is "to chase (a car, a dream, etc)" or "to follow (an interesting topic, a
person that has gone to another country, etc)". Perhaps the biggest difference
is the level of formality. In casual conversations 追いかける is mainly used, while
追う sounds more formal and/or literary. In addition, only 追う means 追い立てる, "to
drive (a herd of cattle, like a cowboy)".

**EDIT** : You may have seen [this
post](http://webbinghaus.tumblr.com/post/119983281254/the-difference-
between-%E8%BF%BD%E3%81%86-and-%E8%BF%BD%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%91%E3%82%8B),
but I'm not really convinced by their explanation. In a drama, a senior police
officer might say "(あの車を)追うぞ!" with great urgency and it sounds to me more
formal and/or dignified than saying "追いかけるぞ!"




辿る is closer to "to trace (a road, a wire, etc)" and it does not mean "to
chase". 追っかける is just a colloquial variation of 追いかける.

追う and 追いかける are _mostly_ interchangeable. The primary meaning of 追う and 追いかける
is "to chase (a car, a dream, etc)" or "to follow (an interesting topic, a
person that has gone to another country, etc)". Perhaps the biggest difference
is the level of formality. In casual conversations 追いかける is mainly used, while
追う sounds more formal and/or literary. In addition, only 追う means 追い立てる, "to
drive (a herd of cattle, like a cowboy)".

**EDIT** : You may have seen [this
post](http://webbinghaus.tumblr.com/post/119983281254/the-difference-
between-%E8%BF%BD%E3%81%86-and-%E8%BF%BD%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%91%E3%82%8B),
but I'm not really convinced by their explanation. In a drama, a senior police
officer might say "(あの車を)追うぞ!" with great urgency and it sounds to me more
formal and/or dignified than saying "追いかけるぞ!"

