How to say "divert" in Japanese

• そらすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers diverting something away from where it is aimed — attention, a gaze — often with a nuance of dodging or evading, as when you divert attention from an awkward question.
  わたしの気きを仕事しごとからそらさないでください。↗

  Please don't take my mind off the work.
• 紛らすまぎらすCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbUsed for diverting the mind itself: it means distracting yourself to relieve boredom or sorrow, as when you divert your mind from grief with some absorbing pastime.
  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.

Use 「そらす」 for diverting something away from where it is directed, such as attention or a gaze, and 「紛らす」 for diverting the mind itself to relieve boredom, sorrow, or similar feelings.

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

• そらすto turn away (one's eyes, face, etc.)
• 紛らすまぎらすto divert (e.g. one's mind)
• 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