Translation guide
The English word 'stray' can be an adjective, verb, or noun. This guide covers how to express these meanings naturally in Japanese.
Describing a lost or wandering animal or person, especially a pet or child.
Used for lost children or pets. '迷子' means 'lost child/animal'. Add 'の' to modify a noun.
迷子の犬を保護しました。
We took in a stray dog.
There is a stray cat in the garden.
Specifically for stray cats or dogs that live on the streets. Often used as a prefix: 野良猫 (stray cat), 野良犬 (stray dog).
野良猫に餌をあげないでください。
Please don't feed the stray cats.
あの野良犬は人に慣れている。
That stray dog is used to people.
Past tense of 'はぐれる' (to get separated from a group). Describes someone/something that has strayed from its group or owner.
はぐれた子羊を見つけた。
I found a stray lamb.
Describing things that are separate from the main group, like stray hairs or stray bullets.
Literally 'sticking out'. Used for stray hairs, threads, etc. that are not in place.
はみ出た髪の毛を整える。
I fix stray hairs.
Used in compounds like '流れ弾' (stray bullet). Implies something that has gone astray from its intended path.
流れ弾に当たった。
He was hit by a stray bullet.
Means 'sporadic' or 'scattered'. Can be used for stray incidents or occurrences.
散発的な銃声が聞こえた。
We heard stray gunshots.
Describing the action of moving away from a group, path, or intended direction.
To get separated from companions. Intransitive verb.
人混みではぐれないように。
Don't stray from the group in the crowd.
子犬が群れからはぐれた。
The puppy strayed from the pack.
To get lost, to lose one's way. Can also mean to hesitate. Intransitive.
To deviate, to go off course. Used for straying from a path, topic, or purpose.
To wander, roam, or loiter. Has a literary or dramatic nuance.
Describing straying from moral standards, faithfulness, or attention.
Literally 'to step off the path'. Means to stray from the right path, morally or behaviorally.
彼は悪い仲間と付き合って道を外した。
He strayed from the right path by hanging out with bad company.
To have an affair, to be unfaithful. Specifically for straying in a romantic relationship.
夫が浮気をした。
My husband strayed.
To be distracted, to have one's attention stray. Literally 'one's mind scatters'.
Referring to a lost or homeless animal or person.
A lost child or animal. Can be used as a noun.
この迷子は誰の犬ですか？
Whose dog is this stray?
Stray dog. Similarly, 野良猫 (stray cat).
A person who has strayed from society or a group; an outcast or wanderer. Somewhat literary.
迷子 (maigo) implies a lost pet or child that likely has an owner. 野良 (nora) implies a homeless animal that lives on the streets. Use 迷子 if you think the animal might be someone's pet, and 野良 for feral or street animals.
迷子の犬には首輪があった。
The stray dog had a collar.
野良猫は耳がカットされている。
The stray cat has a tipped ear.
Do not directly translate 'stray' as ストレイ. It is not natural Japanese. Use the appropriate word based on context (迷子, 野良, はぐれた, etc.).
I strayed in the forest.
The conversation strayed off topic.
矢が的から逸れた。
The arrow strayed from the target.
彼は街を彷徨っていた。
He was straying through the streets.
My thoughts stray during study.
野良犬が公園に集まっている。
Strays are gathering in the park.
He is a stray from society.