This is the 5307th most frequent Korean word.
덩달아
"덩달아" means "to follow suit" or "to do something as others do, often without specific reason."
덩달아 here signifies an action performed instinctively or without intention, influenced by another's behavior.
그가 웃으니 나도 덩달아 웃게 되었다.
As he laughed, I found myself laughing along.
덩달아 in this context emphasizes the simultaneous occurrence of the dog's action due to the children’s movement.
아이들이 뛰어다니니 강아지가 덩달아 쫓아다녔다.
When the children ran around, the dog instinctively followed them.
덩달아 highlights the collective response or imitation of an action initiated by someone.