How to say "wander" in Japanese

• 歩き回るあるきまわるCommon
  godan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'wander' in the concrete sense of moving about on foot, from walking around a place to pacing to and fro. A typical context is someone wandering around town or pacing a room.
  私は野原のはらを歩き回あるきまわるのが好すきだ。↗

  I like to roam about the fields.
• 逍遥しょうようCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers 'wander' as a leisurely ramble or saunter — strolling along in an unhurried, relaxed way. Fits contexts where someone wanders about at their ease, with no particular hurry.
• それるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers 'wander' when it means straying or deviating from a course or point, as in a conversation drifting off topic or something going astray. Usually written in kana alone.
  本題ほんだいからそれないようにしましょう。↗

  Let's not deviate from the subject.

Use 「歩き回る」 when 'wander' means physically walking about or pacing, 逍遥 for a leisurely ramble or saunter, and 「それる」 when it means straying or deviating, as when a conversation drifts off topic.

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

• 歩き回るあるきまわるto walk about
• 逍遥しょうようramble
• さすらうto wander
• 拾い歩きひろいあるき(a) wander
• さまよい歩くさまよいあるくto wander
• ぶらつくto stroll about
• 流れるながれるto drift
• それるto deviate (e.g. of a conversation)
• 漂うただようto wander