Meaning and Usage
The verb '따라오다' literally means 'to come following' or 'to follow someone physically.' It is commonly used when someone or something moves behind another person or thing, keeping close proximity.
Common Contexts
You will often hear '따라오다' in everyday situations such as children following parents, pets following owners, or people following someone in a line or path.
Collocations and Patterns
- '누구를 따라오다': to follow someone physically.
- '뒤를 따라오다': to come following behind.
- '따라오지 마세요': a polite request not to follow.
Register and Politeness
'따라오다' is neutral and can be used in both casual and polite contexts depending on the sentence ending.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse '따라오다' with '따라가다.' The difference is that '따라오다' implies the follower is coming toward the speaker or the speaker’s location, while '따라가다' implies going after someone away from the speaker. Pay attention to the direction implied by the verb.