How to say "roam" in Japanese

• うろつくCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers roaming in the sense of wandering or hanging around with no clear destination, often restlessly. It carries a loitering or prowling nuance, so it suits someone drifting around a neighborhood or street rather than simply going out.
  真夜中まよなかは幽霊ゆうれいがうろつく時刻じこくだと考かんがえられている。↗

  Midnight is when ghosts are thought to walk the earth.
• 出歩くであるくCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers roaming in the sense of going out and walking about, away from home. Its core meaning is going out and moving around, so it fits strolling or getting around town; for aimless prowling, うろつく is usually the better choice.
  彼女かのじょは夜よるにひとりで出歩であるくべきではない。↗

  She shouldn't go out by herself at night.

Use 「うろつく」 for roaming aimlessly or restlessly, often with a loitering or prowling feel, and 「出歩く」 for roaming in the sense of going out and walking about, typically away from home.

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

• うろつくto loiter
• 出歩くであるくto go out
• さすらうto wander
• まごつくto loiter