Translation guide
How to express 'follow around' in Japanese, covering physical following, accompanying someone, and persistent pursuit.
To go after someone as they move, often persistently or without invitation.
The most direct and common way to say 'follow around'. Implies following someone persistently, often with a nuance of being a nuisance or unwanted.
弟が一日中私について回った。
My little brother followed me around all day.
猫が家の中をついて回る。
The cat follows me around the house.
To tail or shadow someone, often with a sense of surveillance or secretly following. Can be used for both physical and metaphorical following.
探偵が容疑者の後をつけた。
The detective followed the suspect around.
To follow around persistently, often with a negative connotation of pestering or stalking. Used for people or even thoughts that won't leave you alone.
変な人がずっと付きまとっている。
A strange person has been following me around.
To go with someone to various places, often to show them around or keep them company.
To guide someone around, showing them various places. Combines 'guide' (案内する) with 'go around' (回る).
東京を案内して回った。
I showed them around Tokyo.
To take someone around, leading them from place to place. Often used when you are responsible for the person.
子供を連れて回るのは大変だ。
It's tough taking the kids around everywhere.
To pursue someone romantically or obsessively, not giving them space.
To chase after someone, often used in romantic contexts or when someone is persistently pursuing another person.
彼は彼女を追いかけてばかりいる。
He's always following her around.
To stalk someone. A loanword from English, used for serious cases of obsessive following. Strongly negative.
彼は元カノをストーカーしている。
He's stalking his ex-girlfriend.
ついて回る is general for following around, often by children or pets. 後をつける implies a deliberate act of tailing, like a detective. 付きまとう has a strong negative nuance of pestering or stalking.
犬がついて回るのは可愛いが、人が付きまとうのは怖い。
A dog following you around is cute, but a person pestering you is scary.
Do not directly translate 'follow around' as フォローする (forō suru), which means 'to follow' in the sense of social media or understanding, not physical following.
✕ 彼をフォローして回った。
Incorrect: I followed him around (using フォロー).