追逐 (zhuī zhú) — to chase, to pursue (physically or figuratively) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

追逐 covers both physical chasing and figurative pursuit (goals, ideals), often with a sense of vigorous, ongoing effort. Compared to 追求, it emphasizes the act of running after rather than aspiring to.

verb

to chaseto pursue (physically or figuratively)

Examples

追逐。
Jǐng chá zài jiē shàng zhuī zhú nà ge xiǎo tōu.
The police are chasing that thief on the street.
追逐。
Tā yì shēng dōu zài zhuī zhú zì yóu hé xìng fú.
She spent her whole life pursuing freedom and happiness.
追逐，。
Wǒ men bù néng zhī zhuī zhú míng lì, yě yào guān xīn shè huì.
We can't just pursue fame and fortune; we also need to care about society.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

追 and 逐 both mean chase/pursue; together they emphasize vigorous pursuit.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

辶𠂤追

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuòmovement

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠂤

𠂤𠂤追zhuī

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The 辶 part shows movement, while 𠂤 gives the sound, for the sense of moving after or pursuing.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

辵辵chuòwalking
豕豕shǐpig

逐 joins 辵, shown as walking, with 豕, a pig, to picture someone chasing a pig.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Abstract Concepts

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