Translation guide
The English phrase 'turn away' has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: physically turning one's body or face away, refusing entry or rejecting someone, and averting one's eyes or attention. Each meaning has different natural Japanese expressions.
To rotate your body or face so you are no longer facing someone or something.
Literally 'turn one's back'. The most common and natural way to say 'turn away' in the physical sense. Often implies a deliberate action, sometimes with emotional nuance like rejection or avoidance.
彼は何も言わずに背を向けた。
He turned away without saying anything.
彼女は怒って背を向けた。
She turned away in anger.
Literally 'avert one's face'. Used when someone turns their face away, often to avoid eye contact or because they are embarrassed, upset, or lying.
彼は私の質問に答えると、顔をそらした。
After answering my question, he turned his face away.
Means 'turn around' or 'look back'. Can be used when someone turns away to look behind them, but it's not a direct equivalent of 'turn away' in the sense of facing the opposite direction. Use with caution.
This word implies turning to look at something behind you, not simply turning away from something in front.
彼は一度振り返ってから去った。
He turned around once and then left.
To not allow someone to enter a place, or to reject someone who seeks help, admission, or participation.
Literally 'drive back'. The most direct equivalent for turning someone away at the door or gate. Implies actively refusing entry or sending someone back.
警備員は私を追い返した。
The guard turned me away.
満員で多くの客を追い返した。
We had to turn away many customers because we were full.
Means 'refuse' or 'decline'. Used when turning away a request, offer, or person in a more general sense. Not limited to physical entry.
Literally 'payment at the gate'. An idiomatic expression meaning to turn someone away at the door without even letting them in. Often used in formal or dramatic contexts.
訪問者は門前払いされた。
The visitor was turned away at the door.
To deliberately look away from something, or to avoid thinking about or dealing with something.
Literally 'avert one's eyes'. The most common way to say 'look away' or 'turn away one's gaze'. Can be physical or metaphorical (avoiding an issue).
彼は真実から目をそらした。
He turned away from the truth.
その光景に耐えられず、私は目をそらした。
Unable to bear the sight, I turned away.
Similar to 顔をそらす but slightly more literary or dramatic. Means to turn one's face away, often in disgust or strong emotion.
彼女は嫌悪感から顔を背けた。
She turned her face away in disgust.
Idiom meaning 'to pretend not to see'. Used when someone deliberately ignores something they should address, turning a blind eye.
彼は不正を見て見ぬふりをした。
He turned a blind eye to the injustice.
背を向ける implies turning your whole body away, often with a sense of finality or rejection. 顔をそらす is just turning your face, often momentarily, to avoid eye contact or an unpleasant sight.
Do not translate 'turn away' literally as 回って離れる or similar. These sound unnatural. Use the specific phrases above depending on the intended meaning.
彼は助けを求めたが、断られた。
He asked for help but was turned away.