1.
passing by each other
The act of two people or things passing each other going in opposite directions.
駅ですれ違いになった。
We passed each other at the station.
狭い道で車とすれ違った。
A car passed me on the narrow road.
電話のすれ違いで連絡が取れなかった。
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.
二人の間にすれ違いが生まれた。
A gap developed between the two of them.
気持ちのすれ違いが原因で別れた。
They broke up because of emotional disconnection.
長年の夫婦でも、すれ違いの生活が続くと心が離れてしまう。
Even long-married couples can drift apart if they keep living separate lives.
Often used to describe relationship problems or communication failures.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- すれ違いになる (to pass each other, to miss each other)
- すれ違いの生活 (ships-in-the-night lifestyle)
- 気持ちのすれ違い (emotional disconnect)
RELATED TERMS:
- すれ違う: to pass by each other (verb)
- 行き違い: misunderstanding, mix-up