What is the difference between "追いつく" and "追い付く"?

"追いつく" means "to catch up with" (N3), whereas "追い付く" represents "to catch up with" (B2).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "おいつく (oitsuku)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

おいつく (oitsuku)

N3 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

おいつく (oitsuku)

B2 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "おいつく (oitsuku)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

追いつく (Level: N3): Translates to "to catch up with" and is used when To reach the same level, speed, or position as someone or something that was ahead. Can be physical.
追い付く (Level: B2): Maps to "to catch up with" and carries the nuance of Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus..

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "追いつく"

急いで走って、ようやくバスに追いついた。

I ran quickly and finally caught up with the bus.

Bilingual Context for "追い付く"

毎日、日本語を練習するために追い付く。

Every day, I catch up with to practice Japanese.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "急いで走って、ようやくバスに追いついた。" (Meaning: "I ran quickly and finally caught up with the bus.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "追いつく" is used for "to catch up with" in the context: "I ran quickly and finally caught up with the bus.".