取とり憑つく

と

り

つ

く

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

Used for evil spirits, obsessive ideas, or strong emotions that take control of a person. Often appears in the passive form 取り憑かれる.

See also: 取り付く · 取り憑かれる

彼かれは悪あく霊りょうに取とり憑つかれたようだ。
He seems to be possessed by an evil spirit.

彼かの女じょはその考かんがえに取とり憑つかれている。

She is obsessed with that idea.

Written forms

取とり憑つくUsage100%
Standard kanji spelling for the meaning 'to possess'.
取とりつく
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji 憑 is considered difficult.

Kanji

取take, fetch, take up
憑depend, rely, evidence

Similar words

取とり憑つかれる
Passive form of 取り憑く, more commonly used to describe the state of being possessed or obsessed.
取とり付つく
Homophonous verb meaning 'to cling to' or 'to get a hold on'; sense 4 overlaps with 取り憑く in some contexts, but 取り憑く specifically implies supernatural or psychological possession.

Etymology

Compound of 取り (continuative form of 取る, 'to take') and 憑く ('to possess'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys the idea of something taking hold of a person.