Translation guide
The English word 'stray' can be an adjective, verb, or noun. This guide covers how to express these meanings naturally in Japanese.
Describing a lost or wandering animal or person, especially a pet or child.
Used for lost children or pets. '迷子' means 'lost child/animal'. Add 'の' to modify a noun.
We took in a stray dog.
There is a stray cat in the garden.
Specifically for stray cats or dogs that live on the streets. Often used as a prefix: 野良猫 (stray cat), 野良犬 (stray dog).
Please don't feed the stray cats.
That stray dog is used to people.
Past tense of 'はぐれる' (to get separated from a group). Describes someone/something that has strayed from its group or owner.
I found a stray lamb.
Describing things that are separate from the main group, like stray hairs or stray bullets.
Literally 'sticking out'. Used for stray hairs, threads, etc. that are not in place.
I fix stray hairs.
Used in compounds like '流れ弾' (stray bullet). Implies something that has gone astray from its intended path.
Means 'sporadic' or 'scattered'. Can be used for stray incidents or occurrences.
We heard stray gunshots.
Describing the action of moving away from a group, path, or intended direction.
To get separated from companions. Intransitive verb.
Don't stray from the group in the crowd.
To get lost, to lose one's way. Can also mean to hesitate. Intransitive.
To deviate, to go off course. Used for straying from a path, topic, or purpose.
To wander, roam, or loiter. Has a literary or dramatic nuance.
Describing straying from moral standards, faithfulness, or attention.
Literally 'to step off the path'. Means to stray from the right path, morally or behaviorally.
He strayed from the right path by hanging out with bad company.
To have an affair, to be unfaithful. Specifically for straying in a romantic relationship.
My husband strayed.
To be distracted, to have one's attention stray. Literally 'one's mind scatters'.
Referring to a lost or homeless animal or person.
迷子 (maigo) implies a lost pet or child that likely has an owner. 野良 (nora) implies a homeless animal that lives on the streets. Use 迷子 if you think the animal might be someone's pet, and 野良 for feral or street animals.
The stray dog had a collar.
The stray cat has a tipped ear.
Do not directly translate 'stray' as ストレイ. It is not natural Japanese. Use the appropriate word based on context (迷子, 野良, はぐれた, etc.).
流れ弾に当たった。
He was hit by a stray bullet.
The puppy strayed from the pack.
I strayed in the forest.
The conversation strayed off topic.
The arrow strayed from the target.
彼は街を彷徨っていた。
He was straying through the streets.
My thoughts stray during study.
野良犬が公園に集まっている。
Strays are gathering in the park.
彼は社会からのはぐれ者だ。
He is a stray from society.