Translation guide
How to express that something is not following the intended path, plan, or topic in Japanese.
Describing a vehicle, person, or process that has strayed from its intended course.
Literally 'to deviate from the course'. Used for vehicles, races, or any planned route.
車がコースを外れてしまった。
The car went off-track.
Means 'to go off the rails' or 'deviate from the track'. Often used for trains or metaphorical paths.
電車が軌道を外れた。
The train went off the tracks.
Specifically means 'to derail' (for trains) or 'to go off-topic' (for conversations).
列車が脱線した。
The train derailed.
When a discussion or thought process goes off on a tangent.
The most common way to say a conversation has gone off-topic. '話' means 'talk/story', 'それる' means 'to deviate'.
話がそれてしまいました。
We've gotten off-track.
Literally 'to deviate from the main subject'. More formal than 話がそれる.
議論が本題から外れている。
The discussion is off-track.
Also used metaphorically for conversations going off-topic, like 'derailing'.
会議が脱線してしまった。
The meeting went off-track.
When a project, plan, or person is not on track to meet a goal or deadline.
Means 'the plan is behind schedule'. A straightforward way to say things are off-track.
プロジェクトが計画より遅れている。
The project is off-track.
Literally 'not progressing as scheduled'. A neutral way to indicate things are off-track.
作業が予定通りに進んでいない。
The work is off-track.
When an assumption, calculation, or understanding is wrong.
Means 'off the mark' or 'wide of the mark'. Used when someone's guess or idea is completely wrong.
君の推測は見当違いだ。
Your guess is off-track.
Literally 'off the target'. Used for comments or actions that miss the point.
その意見は的外れだ。
That opinion is off-track.
Both mean 'to deviate', but それる is used more for abstract deviations (conversations, attention), while 外れる is used for physical or planned paths. 脱線する is specifically for derailing or going off-topic.
Avoid directly translating 'off-track' as オフトラック. It is not a natural Japanese expression. Use the phrases above depending on context.