noun
passing each other without meeting; just missing someone
Describes a situation where two people fail to meet because one arrives just after the other has left. Often used with になる or で. This term is rare; the more common synonym is 入れ違い.
See also: 入れ違い
彼と入り違いになって会えなかった。
I missed him because we passed each other without meeting.
入り違いで、ちょうど入れ違いになった。
We just missed each other, arriving and leaving at the same time.
More common synonym with essentially the same meaning. 入り違い is a rare variant.
Compound of 入り (iri, 'entering') + 違い (chigai, 'difference' or 'crossing'). The exact derivation is uncertain, but it likely follows the pattern of 入れ違い (irechigai).