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尾ける (つける) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

尾つける

つ

け

る

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, transitive verb

follow; shadow; tail; stalk

Used for secretly following someone, often for surveillance or investigation. Can imply persistent or unwanted following.

See also: 付ける

探たん偵ていは容よう疑ぎ者しゃを尾つけて証しょう拠こを集あつめた。
The detective shadowed the suspect and gathered evidence.

ストーカーに尾つけられている気きがする。

I feel like I'm being stalked by someone.

Written forms

尾つける
Standard kanji spelling for 'to tail/follow'; uses the kanji for 'tail'.
追つける
Alternate spelling using the kanji for 'pursue'; less common than 尾ける.
尾つ行ける
Rare ateji spelling combining 尾行 (shadowing) with okurigana る; not standard.

Kanji

尾tail, end, counter for fish
追chase, drive away, follow
行going, journey, carry out

Similar words

追おう
追う is a general verb for 'to chase/pursue', while 尾ける specifically means to follow secretly or stealthily.
付つける
付ける is a very common homophone meaning 'to attach/apply'; context and kanji distinguish them.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 付ける (to attach), with a specialized meaning of 'attaching oneself to someone's trail'. The kanji 尾 (tail) reinforces the 'tailing' nuance.