⏱️

Just about to: -(으)려던 참이다

Keywords
-(으)려던 참이다
Lesson #
S
Done
Section
Intermediate Grammar
🎯
TL;DR 🦄
  • ⏱️ -(으)려던 참이다 [-(eu)ryeo-deon cham-i-da] means to be just about to do something.
  • It describes an intended action that was right on the edge of happening: 지금 전화하려던 참이었어요. — I was just about to call.
  • It often appears with timing words like 마침 “just / as it happens,” 지금 “now,” 이제 “now,” and 막 “just / right then.”
🔊
🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets to hear 전화하려던 참이에요, 먹으려던 참이었어요, 나가려던 참이에요, 만들려던 참이에요, and 마침 물어보려던 참이었어요. Listen for the “right before action” feeling. 🎧
 

🌈 The Big Picture

-(으)려던 참이다 captures the moment when someone was just about to do something. The action had not fully started yet, but the intention was already active and the timing was very close.
 
Think:
  • “I was just about to do A.”
  • “I was right about to do A.”
  • “I was on the verge of doing A.”
  • “I was going to do A just now.”
 
Examples:
  • 지금 전화하려던 참이었어요.
      • [ji-geum jeon-hwa-ha-ryeo-deon cha-mi-eo-sseo-yo] — I was just about to call. 📞
      지금 = now; 전화하다 = to call.
  • 마침 밥을 먹으려던 참이었어요.
      • [ma-chim ba-beul meo-geu-ryeo-deon cha-mi-eo-sseo-yo] — I was just about to eat. 🍚
      마침 = just / as it happens; 밥을 먹다 = to eat a meal.
  • 이제 나가려던 참이에요.
      • [i-je na-ga-ryeo-deon cha-mi-e-yo] — I’m just about to go out now. 🚪
      이제 = now / from now; 나가다 = to go out.
 
This grammar is perfect for timing: someone calls, arrives, asks, or interrupts right when you were about to do something. ⏱️

🎨 The Core -(으)려던 참이다 Family

1. Vowel stem + 려던 참이다

Use this when the verb stem ends in a vowel.
  • 가다 [ga-da] — to go → 가려던 참이에요 [ga-ryeo-deon cha-mi-e-yo] — I’m/was just about to go
  • 보다 [bo-da] — to see/watch → 보려던 참이에요 — I’m/was just about to watch/see
  • 전화하다 [jeon-hwa-ha-da] — to call → 전화하려던 참이에요 — I’m/was just about to call
  • 나가다 [na-ga-da] — to go out → 나가려던 참이에요 — I’m/was just about to go out
 

2. Consonant stem + 으려던 참이다

Use this when the verb stem ends in a consonant.
  • 먹다 [meok-da] — to eat → 먹으려던 참이에요 [meo-geu-ryeo-deon cha-mi-e-yo] — I’m/was just about to eat
  • 읽다 [ik-da] — to read → 읽으려던 참이에요 — I’m/was just about to read
  • 찾다 [chat-da] — to look for/find → 찾으려던 참이에요 — I’m/was just about to look for
  • 입다 [ip-da] — to wear / put on → 입으려던 참이에요 — I’m/was just about to put on
 

3. ㄹ-ending verbs: keep ㄹ + 려던 참이다

Do not add 으.
  • 만들다 [man-deul-da] — to make → 만들려던 참이에요 — I’m/was just about to make
  • 열다 [yeol-da] — to open → 열려던 참이에요 — I’m/was just about to open
  • 살다 [sal-da] — to live → 살려던 참이에요 — I’m/was just about to live
 

4. Common timing words

These words make the “just about to” feeling stronger.
  • 마침 — just / as it happens
  • 지금 — now
  • 이제 — now / from now
  • 막 — just / right at that moment
 
Examples:
  • 마침 전화하려던 참이었어요. — I was just about to call.
  • 지금 나가려던 참이에요. — I’m just about to go out now.
  • 막 시작하려던 참이었어요. — I was just about to start.

🛠️ How It Works in a Sentence

  • 저도 그 말을 하려던 참이었어요.
      • [jeo-do geu ma-reul ha-ryeo-deon cha-mi-eo-sseo-yo] — I was just about to say that too. 🗣️
      저도 = me too; 말하다 = to say/speak.
  • 문을 열려던 참에 전화가 왔어요.
      • [mu-neul yeol-lyeo-deon cha-me jeon-hwa-ga wa-sseo-yo] — Just as I was about to open the door, a call came. 🚪📞
      문 = door; 전화가 오다 = a call comes.
  • 숙제를 시작하려던 참이었는데 친구가 왔어요.
      • [suk-je-reul si-ja-ka-ryeo-deon cha-mi-eot-neun-de chin-gu-ga wa-sseo-yo] — I was just about to start homework, but a friend came. 📚
      숙제 = homework; 시작하다 = to start.

🧩 General Formation Rule

Vowel stems

Remove 다, then add 려던 참이다.
  • 가다 → 가려던 참이다
  • 보다 → 보려던 참이다
  • 전화하다 → 전화하려던 참이다
  • 시작하다 → 시작하려던 참이다
 

Consonant stems

Remove 다, then add 으려던 참이다.
  • 먹다 → 먹으려던 참이다
  • 읽다 → 읽으려던 참이다
  • 찾다 → 찾으려던 참이다
  • 앉다 → 앉으려던 참이다
 

ㄹ stems

Keep the existing ㄹ, then add 려던 참이다.
  • 만들다 → 만들려던 참이다
  • 열다 → 열려던 참이다
  • 살다 → 살려던 참이다
 

Common endings

  • 하려던 참이에요 — I’m just about to do it.
  • 하려던 참이었어요 — I was just about to do it.
  • 하려던 참입니다 — I am just about to do it. More formal.
  • 하려던 참에... — just when I was about to...

🚨 Nuance: Why -던 Appears Here

-던 often looks back at an action or state that was in progress, remembered, interrupted, or not completed.
 
In -(으)려던 참이다, the speaker looks at a plan that was already forming right before the action:
  • 전화하려고 했어요. — I intended/planned to call.
  • 전화하려던 참이었어요. — I was just about to call at that moment.
 
The second sentence is more specific in timing. It means the call was about to happen very soon.

🔍 -(으)려던 참이다 vs Related Grammar

-(으)려던 참이다

Just about to do; right before action.
  • 지금 나가려던 참이에요. — I’m just about to go out now.
 

-(으)려고 하다

Plan/intend to do; not necessarily right now.
  • 나가려고 해요. — I’m planning to go out.
 

-(으)려고 노력하다

Try / make effort to do.
  • 일찍 나가려고 노력해요. — I try to leave early.
 

-(으)ㄹ까 하다

Thinking of doing; tentative, not settled.
  • 나갈까 해요. — I’m thinking of going out.
 

막 -(으)려던 참이다

Just about to do, with even stronger “right now” timing.
  • 막 전화하려던 참이었어요. — I was just about to call right then.
 

-(으)ㄹ 뻔하다

Almost did / almost happened, but did not happen.
  • 전화할 뻔했어요. — I almost called.
 
⚠️ 전화하려던 참이었어요 = I was about to call.
⚠️ 전화할 뻔했어요 = I almost called, often implying I didn’t.

📚 Cross-check note

The pattern -(으)려던 참이다 builds from the intention form -(으)려고, the retrospective modifier -던, and 참 meaning a moment/time/situation. This lesson connects with
🗓️
Intentional Plan: -(으)려고 하다,
💪
Attempting with Intent: -(으)려고 노력하다,
🤔
Contemplating a Plan: -(으)ㄹ까 하다, and
😮
Almost Happened: -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다. ✅

🪞 Synonym Alert

  • -(으)려던 참이다 → just about to do ⏱️
  • 마침 → just / as it happens 🎯
  • 막 → just / right at that moment ⚡
  • 지금 → now 🕒
  • 하려고 하다 → plan/intend to do 🗓️
  • 직전이다 → be right before something, more formal 📌

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

  • ❌ 먹려던 참이에요 → ✅ 먹으려던 참이에요 (consonant stem + 으려던).
  • ❌ 만들으려던 참이에요 → ✅ 만들려던 참이에요 (ㄹ stem keeps ㄹ; no extra 으).
  • ❌ 할려던 참이에요 → ✅ 하려던 참이에요 (standard 하다 form is 하려던).
  • ❌ Confusing with -(으)ㄹ 뻔하다 → ✅ 하려던 참이다 = just about to; 할 뻔하다 = almost did.
  • ❌ Using it for a vague future plan next month → ✅ Use -(으)려고 하다 for general plans; use -(으)려던 참이다 for near-immediate timing.
 
🎉 Now you can catch perfect timing in Korean: 전화하려던 참이었어요, 나가려던 참이에요, 마침 물어보려던 참이었어요. ⏱️✨
 

Try this exercise

Instructions: Complete each sentence with the correct -(으)려던 참이다 form.
1. 전화하다 → 지금 ＿＿＿＿.
[jeon-hwa-ha-da → ji-geum ＿＿＿＿]
I was just about to call. 📞
Answer
전화하려던 참이었어요 — 하다 verb → 하려던.
2. 먹다 → 밥을 ＿＿＿＿.
[meok-da → ba-beul ＿＿＿＿]
I was just about to eat. 🍚
Answer
먹으려던 참이었어요 — consonant stem + 으려던.
3. 나가다 → 이제 ＿＿＿＿.
[na-ga-da → i-je ＿＿＿＿]
I’m just about to go out now. 🚪
Answer
나가려던 참이에요.
4. 만들다 → 샌드위치를 ＿＿＿＿.
[man-deul-da → saen-deu-wi-chi-reul ＿＿＿＿]
I was just about to make a sandwich. 🥪
Answer
만들려던 참이었어요 — ㄹ stem keeps ㄹ.
5. 읽다 → 책을 ＿＿＿＿.
[ik-da → chae-geul ＿＿＿＿]
I was just about to read a book. 📖
Answer
읽으려던 참이었어요.
6. 시작하다 → 막 ＿＿＿＿.
[si-ja-ka-da → mak ＿＿＿＿]
I was just about to start. ⚡
Answer
시작하려던 참이었어요.
7. ❌ 먹려던 참이에요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹으려던 참이에요.
8. ❌ 할려던 참이에요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
하려던 참이에요.
9. Choose “I was just about to call”:
① 전화하려던 참이었어요.
② 전화할 뻔했어요.
Answer
① — 하려던 참이다 means “just about to.”
10. -(으)려던 참이다 is strongest when:
Answer
An intended action was right about to happen.
📚
Vocabulary Box
  • 전화하다 → to call
  • 지금 → now
  • 먹다 → to eat
  • 밥 → meal/rice
  • 나가다 → to go out
  • 이제 → now / from now
  • 만들다 → to make
  • 샌드위치 → sandwich
  • 읽다 → to read
  • 시작하다 → to start
  • 막 → just / right then
Tip 💡 If the action was seconds away, -(으)려던 참이다 is a great fit.
🚀
Want more reps? The Practice Hub below gives you a full “just about to” workout. ⏱️
 
📦
🎯 Practice Hub — Just about to: -(으)려던 참이다
 
Welcome to the perfect-timing lab. ⏱️ You’ll practice actions that were right about to happen: calls, meals, questions, messages, doors opening, and plans interrupted at the last second.
 
🔊 Audio reminder: Use
Korean Helper Widgets
Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a sentence aloud.
 

Exercise 1 — Form Builder 🔧

A. 가다 → ＿＿＿＿ 참이다
Answer
가려던 → 가려던 참이다.
B. 보다 → ＿＿＿＿ 참이다
Answer
보려던.
C. 먹다 → ＿＿＿＿ 참이다
Answer
먹으려던.
D. 읽다 → ＿＿＿＿ 참이다
Answer
읽으려던.
E. 만들다 → ＿＿＿＿ 참이다
Answer
만들려던.
F. 열다 → ＿＿＿＿ 참이다
Answer
열려던.
G. 하다 → ＿＿＿＿ 참이다
Answer
하려던.
H. 듣다 → ＿＿＿＿ 참이다
Answer
들으려던.
I. 걷다 → ＿＿＿＿ 참이다
Answer
걸으려던.
J. 묻다 → ＿＿＿＿ 참이다 (to ask)
Answer
물으려던.
📚
Form Box
  • Vowel stem → 려던 참이다
  • Consonant stem → 으려던 참이다
  • ㄹ stem → keep ㄹ + 려던 참이다
  • 하다 → 하려던 참이다
 

Exercise 2 — Perfect Timing Dialogues 💬

A. Friend calls. “I was just about to call you.”
저도 전화＿＿＿＿.
Answer
전화하려던 참이었어요.
B. Someone asks about dinner. “I was just about to eat.”
마침 밥을 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
먹으려던 참이었어요.
C. A message arrives. “I was just about to send a message.”
메시지를 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
보내려던 참이었어요.
D. Someone knocks. “I was just about to open the door.”
문을 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
열려던 참이었어요.
E. Class begins. “I was just about to ask a question.”
질문을 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
하려던 참이었어요 / 물어보려던 참이었어요.
F. A friend arrives. “I was just about to go out.”
막 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
나가려던 참이었어요.
G. Someone reminds you. “I was just about to start homework.”
숙제를 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
시작하려던 참이었어요.
H. Someone asks for lunch. “I was just about to make it.”
직접 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
만들려던 참이었어요.
I. Phone rings. “I was just about to sleep.”
자려던 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
참이었어요.
J. Teacher asks. “I was just about to read.”
책을 ＿＿＿＿.
Answer
읽으려던 참이었어요.
📚
Timing Words
  • 마침 → just / as it happens
  • 막 → just / right then
  • 지금 → now
  • 이제 → now / from now
 

Exercise 3 — Interrupted Actions 🚦

A. 나가려던 참에 비가 왔어요.
Answer
Meaning: Just as I was about to go out, it rained.
B. Just as I was about to call, a message came.
전화＿＿＿＿ 메시지가 왔어요.
Answer
전화하려던 참에.
C. Just as I was about to eat, a friend came.
밥을 ＿＿＿＿ 친구가 왔어요.
Answer
먹으려던 참에.
D. Just as I was about to open the file, the computer turned off.
파일을 ＿＿＿＿ 컴퓨터가 꺼졌어요.
Answer
열려던 참에.
E. Just as I was about to ask, they explained it first.
물어보려던 ＿＿＿＿ 먼저 설명했어요.
Answer
참에.
📌
참에 pattern
-(으)려던 참에 often means “just as I was about to...” and then another event happened.
 

Exercise 4 — Just About To or Almost Did? 🔍

A. “I was just about to call.”
① 전화하려던 참이었어요. / ② 전화할 뻔했어요.
Answer
① — right before planned action.
B. “I almost called.”
① 전화하려던 참이었어요. / ② 전화할 뻔했어요.
Answer
② — almost did, usually did not.
C. “I’m planning to go out.”
① 나가려고 해요. / ② 나가려던 참이에요.
Answer
① — general plan.
D. “I’m just about to go out now.”
① 나가려고 해요. / ② 지금 나가려던 참이에요.
Answer
② — immediate timing.
E. “I’m thinking of going out.”
① 나갈까 해요. / ② 나가려던 참이에요.
Answer
① — tentative thought.
📚
Decision Box
  • 하려던 참이다 → just about to
  • 할 뻔하다 → almost did
  • 하려고 하다 → plan/intend
  • 할까 하다 → thinking of doing
 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. ❌ 먹려던 참이에요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
먹으려던 참이에요.
B. ❌ 만들으려던 참이에요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
만들려던 참이에요.
C. ❌ 할려던 참이에요 → ✅ ＿＿＿＿
Answer
하려던 참이에요.
D. 마침 전화하려던 참이었어요. means:
Answer
I was just about to call.
E. 문을 열려던 참에 전화가 왔어요. means:
Answer
Just as I was about to open the door, a call came.
F. Choose the natural form: ① 읽으려던 참 / ② 읽려던 참
Answer
① 읽으려던 참.
G. Choose the natural form: ① 열으려던 참 / ② 열려던 참
Answer
② 열려던 참.
H. Choose “just about to start”: ① 시작하려던 참이에요 / ② 시작할 뻔했어요
Answer
① 시작하려던 참이에요.
I. Choose “almost started”: ① 시작하려던 참이에요 / ② 시작할 뻔했어요
Answer
② 시작할 뻔했어요.
J. -(으)려던 참이다 is strongest when:
Answer
Someone was right about to do an intended action.
📚
Final Check
  • Vowel: 가려던 참, 하려던 참
  • Consonant: 먹으려던 참, 읽으려던 참
  • ㄹ stem: 만들려던 참, 열려던 참
  • Timing: 마침, 막, 지금, 이제
Tip 💡 This grammar captures the moment right before action.
 
🎉 “Just about to” timing mastered! With -(으)려던 참이다, you can describe perfect timing and interrupted plans: 전화하려던 참이었어요, 나가려던 참이에요, 먹으려던 참에 전화가 왔어요. ⏱️✨