Translation guide
How to express 'miss each other' in Japanese, covering situations like failing to meet, passing without noticing, or narrowly missing someone.
Two or more people intend to meet but end up not meeting because they are at different places or times.
The most common way to say 'miss each other' when people fail to meet. Literally means 'pass by each other', but is used for missing a meeting.
駅で彼とすれ違った。
I missed him at the station.
私たちはすれ違って会えなかった。
We missed each other and couldn't meet.
Emphasizes a mix-up in communication or timing that caused the miss. Slightly more formal.
連絡が行き違いになって、会えなかった。
Our messages got crossed and we missed each other.
Similar to すれ違う, but using the noun form. Often used when explaining the situation.
すれ違いになってしまって、会えなかった。
We ended up missing each other and couldn't meet.
Two people are in the same place but don't see each other, or pass by without realizing.
Also used for physically passing by without noticing. Context makes the meaning clear.
人混みですれ違ったけど、気づかなかった。
We passed by each other in the crowd but didn't notice.
Explicitly adds 'without noticing' to すれ違う for clarity.
お互いに気づかずにすれ違った。
We passed by each other without noticing.
Two people almost meet but one leaves just before the other arrives, or similar close timing.
Specifically means 'miss each other by a narrow margin', like one leaving as the other arrives.
彼が来たのと入れ違いに、私は出かけた。
I left just as he arrived, so we missed each other.
入れ違いになってしまった。
We missed each other (by a hair).
Can also be used for narrow misses, but 入れ違い is more precise for timing.
Two people feel the absence of each other and wish to be together.
Natural way to say 'miss each other' in the emotional sense. Literally 'think we want to see each other'.
遠距離恋愛で、お互いに会いたいと思っている。
In a long-distance relationship, we miss each other.
Uses the adjective 恋しい (dear, longed for). More poetic or emotional.
離れていると、お互いが恋しくなる。
When we're apart, we miss each other.
すれ違う is a general term for missing each other, including passing by without meeting. 入れ違いになる specifically emphasizes a narrow miss in timing, like one person leaving just as the other arrives.
駅ですれ違った。（広い意味）
We missed each other at the station. (broad meaning)
入れ違いになって、会えなかった。（タイミングのずれ）
We missed each other by a hair and couldn't meet. (timing difference)
The English loanword ミスする means 'make a mistake', not 'miss' in the sense of failing to meet. Avoid saying ミスした for this meaning.
ほんの少しの差ですれ違った。
We missed each other by just a little bit.