How to say "distract" in Japanese

• 紛らすまぎらすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers the sense of diverting one's mind — taking it off worry, boredom, or sorrow, as when a hobby or a drink distracts you from your troubles; this is the word you want for that meaning.
  長ながい旅行りょこうの退屈たいくつをミステリーを読よんで紛まぎらした。↗

  I distracted myself from the boredom of my long journey by reading mysteries.
• 転ずるてんずるCommon
  ichidan verb (-zuru), intransitive verb, transitive verbIts core meanings are to turn, shift, or alter something; its 'distract' sense is marginal, and it is seldom the word you want for that — use it when you mean turning or shifting.

Use 「紛らす」 for taking one's mind off boredom or sorrow; 「転ずる」 is fundamentally a verb of turning or shifting something, and its 'distract' sense is marginal, so it is seldom the word you want.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 紛らすまぎらすto divert (e.g. one's mind)
• 転ずるてんずるto turn
• 気をそらすきをそらすto distract
• 紛らわすまぎらわすto divert (e.g. one's mind)
• 紛らせるまぎらせるto divert (e.g. one's mind)
• 散らすちらすto distract