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すれちがう

to pass by one another, to miss each other, (of views) to fail to meet

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 駅の前で先生とすれちがった。

    えきのまえでせんせいとすれちがった。

    I passed my teacher in front of the station.

  2. 狭い道なので車がすれちがうのは難しい。

    せまいみちなのでくるまがすれちがうのはむずかしい。

    The road is narrow, so it's hard for two cars to pass each other.

  3. 何時間話しても、二人の意見はすれちがったままだった。

    なんじかんはなしても、ふたりのいけんはすれちがったままだった。

    However long they talked, their views never met.

Common patterns

道ですれちがう
to pass each other on the street
意見がすれちがう
for opinions to talk past each other
すれちがいざまに
just as the two passed each other

Memory tip

Literally "rub (すれる) and cross (ちがう)" — two things moving in opposite directions brush past. The figurative use is for conversations or feelings that never quite meet, which is why drifting couples are said to すれちがう.

Quick check

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What does すれちがう mean?