就つく

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

take a seat or position; assume office; take a job

Only when written 就く

Used with に for entering or taking up a place, post, duty, course, or employment: 席に就く, 職に就く, 任に就く. It is intransitive; the role or place is marked with に.

See also: 付く (つく)

• 会かい議ぎが始はじまるので、席せきに就ついてください。

  The meeting is about to start, so please take your seat.

• 大だい学がくを卒そつ業ぎょうしてから、彼かれは銀ぎん行こうの仕し事ごとに就ついた。

  After graduating from university, he took a job at a bank.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

ascend the throne; accede to a high position

Formal use for taking a throne or similar supreme office, typically in expressions such as 王位に就く. The spelling 即く may appear in this sense but is uncommon.

• 若わかい王おう子じが王おう位いに就ついた。

  The young prince ascended the throne.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

set out; start on a journey; depart

Only when written 就く

A somewhat written or formal way to say that someone starts off on a journey or route, especially in set phrases like 旅に就く and 帰途に就く.

• 一いっ行こうは夜よ明あけに帰き途とに就ついた。

  The party set out for home at dawn.

godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb

study under a teacher; be apprenticed to someone

Only when written 就く

Formal use with a teacher or master marked by に, as in 師に就く or 師に就いて学ぶ. In everyday language, 師事する or 先生に習う may be more common depending on context.

• 彼かの女じょは京きょう都とで名めい人じんに就ついて茶さ道どうを学まなんだ。

  She studied the tea ceremony in Kyoto under a master.