Translation guide
The English verb 'estrange' means to cause someone to become distant or alienated from another person, group, or situation. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various verbs and phrases that describe emotional distance, alienation, or the breaking of relationships. The most common and natural expressions depend on the context: whether it's between people, from a group, or a more formal/legal separation.
To make two people (or a person and a group) feel less close, friendly, or affectionate towards each other.
His attitude estranged the two of them.
Busyness can sometimes estrange friends.
This is the intransitive version, meaning 'to become estranged'. It's often used to describe the state resulting from estrangement. While 'estrange' is transitive, this phrase is very common when describing the effect.
I've become estranged from my old friends.
Literally 'to tear apart the relationship'. This is a stronger, more emotional expression implying a deliberate or forceful action that drives people apart.
The rumor estranged the two of them.
A formal, somewhat literary term meaning to alienate or drive a wedge between people. Often used in political or strategic contexts.
He tried to estrange the two allied nations.
To make someone feel isolated, unwelcome, or disconnected from a larger group, community, or environment.
Means 'to isolate' or 'to alienate'. It focuses on making someone feel alone or cut off from others. It's a common and natural way to express estrangement from a group.
His opinion estranged him from the team.
That policy could estrange young people from society.
A more formal term for 'alienate' or 'estrange', often used in sociological or psychological contexts. It implies a sense of being made an outsider.
Literally 'to make someone a floating existence', meaning to make them stand out as different and not fit in, leading to estrangement from the group.
To formally or permanently sever a relationship, often used in legal or serious family contexts.
This means 'to sever relations' or 'to disown'. It is a strong, often irreversible action, commonly used for family estrangement or cutting ties completely.
He estranged himself from his father.
The incident estranged the family.
Specifically means 'to disown' or 'to cut off (a child)'. It's a traditional term used when a parent formally severs ties with their child.
He estranged his son (disowned him).
疎遠にする is used for making a relationship between two parties distant, while 孤立させる focuses on making one person isolated from a group. Use 疎遠にする for personal relationships and 孤立させる for group dynamics.
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all uses of 'estrange'. Translating it as エストレンジする is not natural. Choose the appropriate expression based on the context.
He feels estranged at work.
His unusual hobby estranged him from the class.