Intermediate (JSON) Estimated read: 3 mins

-(으)려던 참이다

Used to indicate the speaker was just on the verge of doing something, often coinciding with an external event.

Summary

Equivalent

I was just about to... / I had been meaning to...

Also: 막 -(으)려고 하다 (Was just about to... - more casual)

Example

I was just about to call you, and you reached out first.

마침 전화하려던 참이었는데 먼저 연락해 줬네요.

Grammar rules

  • Implies immediacy — the action was about to happen right then.

Patterns

1

Verbs (Just About To)

Imminent Action · Verb Stem + (으)려던 참이다

Example sentences

Verbs (Just About To) · Imminent Action · Verb Stem + (으)려던 참이다

I was just about to call you, and you reached out first.

마침 전화하려던 참이었는데 먼저 연락해 줬네요.

Verbs (Just About To) · Imminent Action · Verb Stem + (으)려던 참이다

I was just about to head out. If only you'd come a little earlier.

지금 막 나가려던 참이었어요. 조금만 일찍 왔으면 됐을 텐데요.

Verbs (Just About To) · Imminent Action · Verb Stem + (으)려던 참이다

I was just about to eat. Would you like to eat together?

밥을 먹으려던 참인데 같이 먹을래요?

Conversation

A: Oh, great timing!

아, 마침 잘 왔어요!

B: Why? What's going on?

왜요? 무슨 일인가요?

Practice

Fill in the blank

Express that you were just on the verge of doing the action.

Go to bed.

Send email.