najagen

Najagen is a Dutch verb meaning to pursue or chase after something, typically a goal, dream, opportunity, or objective. The term combines the verb jagen (to hunt or chase) with the prefix na-, giving a sense of pursuing something after it. It is a separable verb: in present tense the prefix is usually separated from the main verb, as in Hij jaagt zijn dromen na. The past participle is nagejaagd, used with hulp verbs such as hebben, for example Hij heeft zijn droom nagejaagd. The noun form het najagen refers to the act or process of pursuing—het najagen van doelen, dromen, of kansen, for instance.

Usage and nuance: Najagen is common in discussions of personal development, career planning, entrepreneurship, and policy debates about innovation. It emphasizes sustained effort and perseverance to achieve an objective. Depending on context, it can carry a positive sense of ambition and dedication, or a critical edge when the pursuit is seen as excessive or neglectful of other considerations.

Examples: Zij jaagt haar droom na om een eigen bedrijf te starten. Overheden en bedrijven bespreken het najagen van duurzame energiekansen. In bijna elke context connotes a proactive, goal-oriented approach.

See also: pursuit, ambition, striving. The English equivalents are to pursue, to chase after, and pursuit.