godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
go toward; proceed to; repair to
Formal or written equivalent of going to a place or proceeding toward a destination, often with に or へ. More elevated than ordinary 行く or 向かう.
調査員が現地へ赴いた。
The investigators went to the site.
彼は新しい任地に赴くことになった。
He was assigned to proceed to his new post.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
follow one's inclination; proceed according to
Used in fixed-feeling expressions such as 心の赴くまま or 気の赴くまま, meaning to act as one's feelings or impulses lead.
週末は心の赴くままに町を歩いた。
On the weekend, I wandered around town wherever my heart led me.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
move toward a state; become; come to face
Formal or somewhat literary use for a condition, illness, discussion, or situation moving toward a particular state; often overlaps with 向かう in modern Japanese.
病状は快方に赴いている。
His condition is moving toward recovery.
議論は次第に結論へ赴いた。
The discussion gradually moved toward a conclusion.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
Archaic use meaning to follow, obey, or agree to someone else's will or words; not a normal modern standalone use.
古文の「主の意に赴く」は、主君の意向に従うという意味で読める。
In classical writing, 主の意に赴く can be read as meaning to obey one's lord's wishes.