そらす・逸らすsorasu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto turn away (one's eyes, face, etc.); to avert; to divert (e.g. one's attention); to evade (e.g. a question); to change (e.g. the subject)
    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.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto displease; to annoy; to offend; to upsetusu. in the negative
  3. godan verb, transitive verbto miss (the target, ball, etc.)
Conjugation
Dictionary formそらす
Polite (masu)そらします
Negative (nai)そらさない
polite (masen)そらしません
classical zu / nuそらさず・そらさぬ
Past (ta)そらした
polite (mashita)そらしました
Past negative (nakatta)そらさなかった
polite (masen deshita)そらしませんでした
Te formそらして
Potentialそらせる
Passiveそらされる
Causativeそらさせる
Causative passiveそらさせられる
Conditional (ba)そらせば
taraそらしたら
Volitionalそらそう
polite (mashou)そらしましょう
Imperativeそらせ

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Transitive / intransitive pair
transitiveそらす⇄intransitiveそれる
球たまがそれる
球たまをそらす
逸れる puts the focus on the ball itself going astray or missing its intended path, while 逸らす emphasizes an agent actively deflecting or turning the ball aside.

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Related背けるそむけるNeutralTurns the face or gaze away, as in 「顔を背ける」「目を背ける」; unlike 「逸らす」, it cannot shift a topic or attention.
  • Antonym向けるむけるNeutralMeans making something face a direction or aim at a target — the opposite of 「逸らす」, which moves the gaze or attention away.

Use 「逸らす」 to move the gaze away or shift a topic, as in 「話を逸らす」; use 「背ける」 to turn the face away and avoid looking; use 「向ける」 to face or aim at something.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 視線しせんを合あわせない。
  2. 会話かいわの内容ないようをはぐらかす。
  3. 目標もくひょうから狙ねらいを外はずす。
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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