Translation guide
How to express 'go astray' in Japanese, covering physical straying, moral/behavioral straying, and idiomatic uses.
To become lost or wander off the intended path.
The most common and natural way to say 'get lost' or 'lose one's way'.
I went astray in the mountains.
Specifically means 'to become a lost child', but can be used for adults in a slightly childish or humorous way.
I went astray in the department store.
To wander or roam without a clear destination, often with a nuance of being lost or aimless. More literary.
He went astray in the dark forest.
To deviate from the right path in terms of morals, behavior, or life choices.
Literally 'to step off the path', a common metaphor for straying from the right moral or social path.
He went astray when he was young.
To run down the path of evil; implies actively choosing a bad path.
He went astray and turned to crime.
To become depraved or corrupt; a stronger term for moral decay.
It is common for those in power to go astray morally.
For an item, letter, or communication to fail to reach its destination or become lost.
To deviate from the intended subject or plan.
道に迷う is the general term for getting lost (losing one's way). 迷子になる specifically means becoming a lost child, but can be used for adults in a self-deprecating or humorous way, especially in crowded places like stations or department stores.
I almost went astray at the station.
Avoid directly translating 'go astray' as 迷いに行く or similar. The natural Japanese depends heavily on context: physical lostness, moral straying, or deviation from a plan.
The hikers went astray in the fog.
Many young people go astray without proper guidance.
My package went astray and never arrived.