追随（ついずい、tsuizuい）
- following

The Japanese word 追随 ついずい means to follow, to pursue, or to adhere to someone or something. It implies following a leader, a trend, or a specific idea. It often suggests a passive role, where one is not the originator but is instead emulating or complying with what someone else is doing. It can also describe a situation where one falls in line with the opinion or actions of others. The core meaning focuses on the idea of imitation or following a certain path set by someone or something else.

⚫︎彼の政策に追随 Translation: Following his policies. ⚫︎流行に追随する Translation: Following the trend. ⚫︎彼の意見に追随した Translation: Adhered to his opinion.

This word is used in both formal and informal contexts. It's often used when discussing actions or behaviors that are imitative. It can describe following a leader's actions, a company's strategies, or even a popular opinion. It suggests a degree of compliance or agreement with something already established. Use it when describing situations where one is not the initiator but rather a follower.

The word is typically written in kanji as 追随. The reading is ついずい in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana is standard.

⚫︎従う (従う - したがう - to obey, to follow) ⚫︎倣う (ならう - to imitate, to follow the example of) ⚫︎跟随 (ついずい - same meaning, sometimes used in formal writing) ⚫︎模倣する (もほうする - to imitate)

⚫︎先導する (せんどうする - to lead) ⚫︎主導する (しゅどうする - to take the initiative, to lead) ⚫︎先駆ける (さきがける - to pioneer, to be the first)

彼は会社の新しい方針に追随しなかったため、解雇された。 ・Translation: He was fired because he didn't follow the company's new policy. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates a negative consequence of not adhering to a prescribed course of action.

多くの企業がその成功事例に追随し、新しい技術を導入した。 ・Translation: Many companies followed that success story and introduced new technologies. ・Explanation: This example shows how companies imitate successful examples to adopt new technology.

The word 追随 is formed from two kanji. 追 (おい - tsui) means "to follow, to chase," and 随 (ずい - zui) means "to follow, to comply with." Together, they create the meaning of to follow and adhere.