Translation guide
How to express the idea of two or more people or things moving past one another, often in opposite directions, in Japanese.
Describing two people, vehicles, etc. moving past each other, often on a path, road, or corridor.
The most common and natural verb for two things passing each other, often implying they move in opposite directions and miss each other. Can be used for people, cars, etc.
狭い道で車とすれ違った。
I passed a car on a narrow road.
彼とは駅ですれ違った。
I passed him at the station (without meeting).
Similar to すれ違う, but often emphasizes the failure to meet or a misunderstanding. Slightly more literary.
手紙が行き違った。
Our letters crossed in the mail.
Alternate kanji for すれ違う, using 擦 (to rub/graze). Less common, but emphasizes the physical closeness of passing.
人と擦れ違うとき、肩が触れた。
When passing someone, our shoulders touched.
Emphasizing that two people failed to meet or connect, often due to timing or miscommunication.
Noun form of すれ違う, often used to describe a situation where people miss each other or fail to connect emotionally.
すれ違いの恋
A love that never quite connects (missed connections in love)
夫婦のすれ違いが増えている。
The couple is drifting apart (having more missed connections).
Noun form of 行き違う. Often used for crossed letters, miscommunication, or a mix-up in plans.
Simply describing two entities moving past each other, often in opposite directions, without the nuance of missing each other.
Pattern: [person/thing] とすれ違う. The particle と marks the other party.
彼女とすれ違ったけど、気づかなかった。
I passed her but didn't notice.
Already covered above, but this is the core verb.
毎日、同じ時間に彼とすれ違う。
I pass him every day at the same time.
When two people or things pass each other in a tight space, often requiring one to step aside.
Still the default verb, but context implies a tight space.
狭い廊下ですれ違うのは大変だ。
It's tough passing each other in the narrow hallway.
Descriptive phrase: 'turn sideways when passing each other'. Not a set phrase, but useful for explaining the action.
すれ違う時に体を横に向けた。
I turned sideways when we passed each other.
すれ違う is the everyday word for physically passing by each other or missing a connection. 行き違う is less common and often implies a mix-up or crossed communication (like letters crossing in the mail). For most situations, すれ違う is the safer choice.
通る (とおる) means 'to pass through' or 'to go by', but it does not convey the mutual action of two things passing each other. Use すれ違う instead.
連絡の行き違いで会えなかった。
We couldn't meet due to a miscommunication.