行(い)き違(ちが)い

いきちがい
noun
misunderstanding; crossing paths, missing each other
communication
1. crossing paths, passing each other, missing each other
The physical act of passing by someone going in the opposite direction or failing to meet due to different timing.
駅(えき)で行(い)き違(ちが)いになった。
We missed each other at the station.
単線(たんせん)なので、電車(でんしゃ)の行(い)き違(ちが)いを待(ま)つ。
It's a single-track line, so we wait for the oncoming train to pass.
2. misunderstanding, miscommunication
A failure to understand each other correctly, often due to different expectations or assumptions.
約束(やくそく)の時間(じかん)に行(い)き違(ちが)いがあった。
There was a misunderstanding about the meeting time.
メールの行(い)き違(ちが)いで混乱(こんらん)が生(しょう)じた。
Confusion arose from crossed emails.
連絡(れんらく)の行(い)き違(ちが)いで、会議(かいぎ)の場所(ばしょ)を間違(まちが)えた。
Because of a mix-up in communication, I went to the wrong place for the meeting.
行(い)き違(ちが)いがあったようで、申(もう)し訳(わけ)ありません。
There seems to have been a misunderstanding. I apologize.

行(い)き違(ちが)い can refer to physical or communicative misalignment.

Common patterns

  • 行(い)き違(ちが)いになる: to miss each other; to have a misunderstanding
  • 行(い)き違(ちが)いがある: there is a misunderstanding
  • 行(い)き違(ちが)いが生(しょう)じる: a misunderstanding arises

Related words

Related Words

Related: 食(く)い違(ちが)い (discrepancy, disagreement)
Related: 勘違(かんちが)い (misunderstanding, wrong assumption)
Related: すれ違(ちが)い (passing by)
Compare: 手違(てちが)い (mistake)
general
Added 2026.2.4 21:08 · Revised 2026.10.6 4:00
09500/09985_ikichigai