godan verb (-u), expression
walk behind someone
Literal physical action of walking behind a person, often with a sense of following them.
彼は黙って私の背中を追ってきた。
He silently walked behind me.
godan verb (-u), expression
follow in someone's footsteps
Idiomatic use: to emulate or follow the example of a predecessor, often in a career or life path.
彼は父親の背中を追って医者になった。
He followed in his father's footsteps and became a doctor.