Translation guide
How to express 'deviate' in Japanese, covering physical departure from a path, divergence from norms or plans, and statistical deviation.
To physically move away from a set route, road, or expected trajectory.
General verb for straying or deviating from a path, course, or topic. Intransitive.
The car deviated from the road.
The conversation deviated from the main topic.
To come off, miss, or deviate from an expected position or standard. Often used for predictions or physical alignment.
Kana-only form of 逸れる, common in casual writing.
The conversation went off track.
To act or be different from what is usual, expected, or prescribed.
Formal suru-verb meaning to deviate from rules, norms, or standards. Often used in official or technical contexts.
His behavior deviates from social norms.
Don't deviate from the plan.
Also used for deviating from expectations or standards, less formal than 逸脱する.
To be off, shifted, or out of alignment. Used for slight deviations in timing, position, or thinking.
To differ from a mean or expected value in data.
Noun meaning deviation (statistical). Often used in compounds like 標準偏差 (standard deviation).
Please calculate the deviation of this data.
Can be used in formal statistical contexts, but 偏差 is more common as a noun.
The value deviates significantly from the mean.
逸れる (それる) is for straying from a path or topic. 外れる (はずれる) is for missing a target or being off from an expected standard. ずれる is for slight misalignment or shift, often in timing or perception.
Avoid directly translating 'deviate' as デビエートする; it is not natural Japanese. Use the verbs above depending on context.
彼の意見は常識から外れている。
His opinion deviates from common sense.
His sense is a little off (deviates from the norm).
The schedule deviated (got off track).