I was just about to V: (으)려던 참이다

(으)려던 참이다 is used at the end of a sentence to show that you were about to do something:

너한테 전화를 하려던 참이었어요.

I was just about to call you.

지금 나가려던 참이었어요.

I was about to leave now.

— 박물관에 같이 갈까요?

— Shall we go to the museum together?

— 안 그래도, 가려던 참이었어요. 같이 갈래요.

— Actually, I was just about to go. Let’s go together.

— 지금 뭐 해요?

— What are you doing now?

— 얼굴을 세수하고 잠을 자려던 참이었어요.

— I was about to wash my face and go to sleep.

— 지금은 바빠요?

— Are you busy right now?

— 안 그래도, 밥을 먹으려던 참이었어요. 15분 후에 돌아오세요.

— Actually, I was about to eat a meal. Come back in 15 minutes.

I was just about to, when…

V + 려던 참에 (or 려는 참에) can be placed between clauses to show that you were about to do something when/so/but’:

나가려던 참에 너는 사무실에 왔어요.

I was about to leave when you came to the office.

수영장에 가려던 참에 친구가 월요일에는 문을 닫는다고 말했어요.

I was about to go to the swimming pool when my friend told me it’s closed on Mondays.

책을 사려던 참에 저는 돈이 없는 걸 알았어요.

I was about to buy the book when I realised I didn’t have any money.

메시지를 촬영 하려던 참이었는데 카메라가 고장 난 것 같았어요.

I was about to record (film) a message but it seemed that my camera broke.

홍콩에 이사하려던 참에 먼저 소포를 많이 보내고 있어요.

I’m about to move to Hong Kong so I’m sending a lot of parcels beforehand.

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