拘る

Etymology 1
From.

Tawaru derives from the same tawa element in words such as or, indicating "actions or state out of the ordinary: eccentricity, preposterousness, absurdity": tawa + auxiliary verb.

Tawa may be the nominalized imperfective form of root verb, with the imperfective possibly indicating “not lasting: fickle, changing; not being appropriate, not having value”.

Verb

 * 1) to get hung up on something, to not proceed smoothly
 * 2) to be concerned over something that is not worth attention: to be overly fastidious or particular
 * 3) to nitpick about something
 * 4) to take special care over something, to be particular (in a positive way)
 * 1) to nitpick about something
 * 2) to take special care over something, to be particular (in a positive way)
 * 1) to nitpick about something
 * 2) to take special care over something, to be particular (in a positive way)
 * 1) to take special care over something, to be particular (in a positive way)

Usage notes
Though intransitive, this verb usually takes an indirect object followed by the particle.

The positive connotations of sense 4 appear to be a more recent development. Some speakers and writers may caution against using the word this way.

Etymology 2
Derived from the explicitly intransitive or passive form of root verb : kakau > imperfective form kakawa + auxiliary verb.

In turn, kakau derives from root verb : kaku > imperfective form kaka + auxiliary verb.

Verb

 * 1) to be in relation to, to be relevant to, to be involved in
 * 2) to be involved in a negative way: to meddle, to interfere
 * 3) to have a substantial effect on something, to endanger something
 * 4) to get hung up on something
 * 1) to have a substantial effect on something, to endanger something
 * 2) to get hung up on something
 * 1) to get hung up on something
 * 1) to get hung up on something

Usage notes
Usually written in hiragana. When written in kanji, sense 4, “to get hung up on something,” is generally written as or, with the other senses written as  or.

Though intransitive, this verb usually takes an indirect object followed by the particle.