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.
I passed a car on a narrow road.
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.
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.
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.
A love that never quite connects (missed connections in love)
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.
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.
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 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.
The couple is drifting apart (having more missed connections).
We couldn't meet due to a miscommunication.
I pass him every day at the same time.
I turned sideways when we passed each other.
I passed a car (coming the other way).