入いれ違ちがい

noun

passing each other without meeting; just missing each other

Describes two people or things moving in opposite directions and failing to meet, or one arriving just after the other has left. Often used with になる or で.

• 彼かれと入いれ違ちがいになって、会あえなかった。

  I missed him because we passed each other without meeting.

• 母ははが帰かえった直ちょく後ごに私わたしが着ついて、入いれ違ちがいだった。

  My mother had just left when I arrived, so we missed each other.

noun

inserting in the wrong order

Used when items are placed in an incorrect sequence, such as pages in a document or parts in an assembly. Less common than the 'passing each other' sense.

• 書しょ類るいのページが入いれ違ちがいになっていた。

  The pages of the document were inserted in the wrong order.