Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To run after, to chase: To physically pursue someone or something in order to catch them.
   • To pursue, to strive for (often abstract goals): To actively seek or aim to achieve something, such as profit, trends, or ideals. This usage often carries a nuance of excessive or blind pursuit.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Đứa trẻ chạy theo quả bóng. (The child ran after the ball.)
  • Anh ấy chỉ biết chạy theo lợi nhuận. (He only knows how to run after profits.)
  • Cô ấy không thích chạy theo mốt. (She doesn't like to chase after fashion trends.)

Advanced Usage

• "chạy theo thành tích": to chase/be driven by achievements (often with a negative connotation of prioritizing results over quality or ethics).

  • Hệ thống giáo dục không nên chỉ chạy theo thành tích. (The education system should not just chase after achievements.)

• "chạy theo ảo vọng": to pursue illusions/pipe dreams.

  • Anh ta đang chạy theo những ảo vọng không thực tế. (He is pursuing unrealistic pipe dreams.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đuổi theo (verb phrase): to run after, to chase. Often more literal than "chạy theo".

  • Cảnh sát đuổi theo tên trộm. (The police chased after the thief.)

• Theo đuổi (verb): to pursue, to follow (a goal, dream, person). More neutral and formal than "chạy theo".

  • Cô ấy theo đuổi sự nghiệp âm nhạc. (She pursues a music career.)

Synonyms

• Rượt đuổi: to chase, to hunt down.
• Tìm kiếm: to seek, to look for (less intense than "chạy theo").

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Chạy theo sau: to run after/behind someone/something. Emphasizes a position of lagging behind.
  • Công nghệ của họ luôn chạy theo sau các đối thủ. (Their technology always runs behind their competitors.)

Related Idioms

• Chạy theo thời thế: to go with the flow, to adapt to the times (can be positive or negative depending on context).

  • Muốn thành công trong kinh doanh, đôi khi phải biết chạy theo thời thế. (To succeed in business, sometimes you have to know how to go with the flow.)

• Chạy theo số đông: to follow the crowd, to conform blindly.

  • Bạn không nên chạy theo số đông mà hãy có chính kiến của mình. (You shouldn't just follow the crowd; you should have your own opinions.)

1. Run after
   • Chạy theo lợi nhuận
     To run after profits