Translation guide
To find someone or something after a long or difficult search.
To locate a person or thing after persistent effort, investigation, or following clues.
To track down or ascertain something through investigation. Commonly used for finding facts, locations, or identities.
The police finally tracked down the criminal's whereabouts.
To find something or someone after searching. Emphasizes the successful outcome of a search.
To discover or find out after looking. Similar to 探し出す but can also imply discovering something hidden.
To track or pursue, often used in contexts like tracking animals, vehicles, or digital footprints. More literal 'tracking' sense.
The detective tracked down the suspect.
To locate a person, often to talk to them or get something from them.
To get in touch with someone. Often used when the goal is to contact the person after finding them.
Avoid directly translating 'track down' as 追いかけて下ろす or similar. Use the verbs above depending on context.
I need to track down that book.
He is trying to track down the source of the information.
I finally tracked down the necessary documents.
He tracked down the hidden treasure.
I tracked him down and finally got in touch.
To catch or find someone, often with a nuance of finally getting hold of them. Casual.
I finally tracked down the teacher yesterday and was able to ask a question.
Can you help me track down my keys?
In casual contexts, simply 探す (search) may be enough.