Translation guide
The English phrase 'deprive of' means to prevent someone from having or using something, often something essential or important. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various verbs and patterns depending on what is being taken away and the context.
Expressing that someone is prevented from having rights, freedom, opportunities, etc.
The most direct and common verb for 'deprive of'. It can be used for both concrete and abstract things. Often used in the pattern 〜を奪う.
自由を奪う
deprive of freedom
彼は私からすべての希望を奪った。
He deprived me of all hope.
Passive form, often used when the subject is the victim. It emphasizes the experience of being deprived.
彼は財産を奪われた。
He was deprived of his property.
Expressing that someone is prevented from getting necessary physical things like sleep or nutrition.
Used as a suffix meaning 'lack of' or 'deprivation of'. Common in compounds like 睡眠不足 (lack of sleep).
睡眠不足で集中できない。
I can't concentrate due to sleep deprivation.
Can also be used for physical needs, but 〜不足 is more common for chronic states.
睡眠を奪われる
be deprived of sleep
Expressing that someone is prevented from having an opportunity or chance to do something.
Literally 'deprive of opportunity'. A natural phrase.
彼は私から話す機会を奪った。
He deprived me of the chance to speak.
Expresses that one is not allowed to do something, implying deprivation of opportunity. More indirect and natural in some contexts.
説明させてもらえなかった。
I was deprived of the chance to explain.
Expressing loss of a person or cherished thing, often through death or separation.
Means 'to lose'. Often used for losing loved ones or important things. More emotionally neutral than 奪う.
彼は事故で家族を失った。
He was deprived of his family in an accident.
Passive of 奪う, emphasizing the cruel or sudden nature of the loss.
戦争で多くの命が奪われた。
Many lives were deprived by the war.
奪う implies an active agent taking something away, often with force or injustice. 失う simply means 'to lose' and does not necessarily imply an external agent. Use 奪う when someone or something actively deprives; use 失う for general loss.
Do not directly translate 'deprive of' as a single word. Japanese uses verbs like 奪う or patterns like 〜不足 depending on context. A phrase like 'deprive of sleep' is not 睡眠を奪う but 睡眠不足 (sleep deprivation) or 睡眠を奪われる (be deprived of sleep).