すれ(ちが)

すれちがい
noun
passing by each other, missing each other, miscommunication
See also: すれ(ちが) (verb form)
1. passing by each other
The act of two people or things passing each other going in opposite directions.
(えき)ですれ(ちが)いになった。
We passed each other at the station.
(せま)(みち)(くるま)とすれ(ちが)った。
A car passed me on the narrow road.
電話(でんわ)のすれ(ちが)いで連絡(れんらく)()れなかった。
We kept missing each other's calls and couldn't get in touch.
2. missing each other, miscommunication
A situation where people fail to meet or connect, or where there is a misunderstanding or gap in communication.
二人(ふたり)(あいだ)にすれ(ちが)いが()まれた。
A gap developed between the two of them.
気持(きも)ちのすれ(ちが)いが原因(げんいん)(わか)れた。
They broke up because of emotional disconnection.
長年(ながねん)夫婦(ふうふ)でも、すれ(ちが)いの生活(せいかつ)(つづ)くと(こころ)(はな)れてしまう。
Even long-married couples can drift apart if they keep living separate lives.

The noun form of the verb すれ(ちが)う (to pass by each other). Has both a physical and figurative meaning.

SENSE 1 — PHYSICAL:

Two people or things passing each other going in opposite directions.

  • (えき)ですれ(ちが)いになった: we just missed each other at the station
  • 電話(でんわ)のすれ(ちが)い: missing each other's phone calls

SENSE 2 — FIGURATIVE:

Emotional disconnect or miscommunication between people. Very common in relationship contexts.

  • 気持(きも)ちのすれ(ちが)い: emotional disconnect
  • すれ(ちが)いの生活(せいかつ): ships-in-the-night lifestyle (couple rarely seeing each other)

RELATED:

  • すれ(ちが)う: to pass by each other (verb form)
  • ()(ちが)い: mix-up, misunderstanding (logistics/communication)