Translation guide
How to express 'lead astray' in Japanese, covering physical misdirection, moral corruption, and deception.
To cause someone to go the wrong way or get lost.
Literally 'make someone mistake the road'. Natural for giving wrong directions.
彼は私にわざと間違った道を教えて、道を間違えさせた。
He deliberately gave me the wrong directions and led me astray.
Means 'to cause to get lost' or 'to bewilder'. Can be used for physical misdirection.
その看板が観光客を迷わせた。
That sign led the tourists astray.
To influence someone to do wrong or adopt bad habits.
Literally 'invite to the path of evil'. Strong, dramatic expression for leading someone into a life of crime or vice.
彼は友人を悪の道に誘った。
He led his friend astray into a life of crime.
Means 'to make someone stray from the path'. Used for causing someone to go wrong in life.
悪い仲間が彼を道を踏み外させた。
Bad company led him astray.
Means 'to corrupt' or 'to debase'. Focuses on moral degradation.
権力が彼を堕落させた。
Power led him astray.
To cause someone to believe something untrue or make a wrong decision.
Means 'to deceive', 'to mislead', or 'to bewilder'. Common in contexts of leading someone's judgment astray.
彼の言葉に惑わされてはいけない。
Don't be led astray by his words.
Means 'to deceive' or 'to trick'. Stronger implication of intentional dishonesty.
Literally 'guide in the wrong direction'. Formal and explicit.
その報告書は私たちを誤った方向に導いた。
The report led us astray.
To tempt someone into an illicit relationship or infidelity.
Means 'to tempt' or 'to seduce'. Common for leading someone astray romantically.
彼は人妻を誘惑した。
He led a married woman astray.
Specifically 'to invite to an affair'. Directly refers to marital infidelity.
彼女は同僚を不倫に誘った。
She led her colleague astray into an affair.
Avoid directly translating 'lead astray' as '迷わせる' in all contexts. '迷わせる' is mainly for physical or mental confusion, not moral corruption. Use context-appropriate phrases like '悪の道に誘う' for moral leading astray.
彼は巧みな話で人々を欺いた。
He led people astray with his clever talk.