-(으)ㄴ/는 참에

Build it

When to use it

The form follows the modifier system: ongoing actions take -는 참에, completed ones -(으)ㄴ 참에. Stems in ㄹ drop it, and 참 is a noun taking a space.

The moment is opportune. Because you are already doing one thing, or something has just happened, the second follows naturally: 마침 나가는 참에 우편함을 확인했다.

마침 or 그렇지 않아도 usually introduces it, marking the coincidence as lucky.

Keep it apart from -(으)려던 참이다. That one says you had not yet started; this one says you already are, so you may as well.

How to attach it

In use

1. 마침 나가는 참에 우편함을 확인했어요.

   Since I was going out anyway, I checked the postbox.

2. 시내에 나온 참에 서점에도 들렀다.

   Being in town, I dropped into the bookshop as well.

3. 그렇지 않아도 이야기를 꺼내는 참에 잘 오셨습니다.

   You’ve come at just the right moment — we were raising that very thing.

4. 밥을 짓는 참에 국도 함께 끓였다.

   While the rice was on, I made soup too.

5. 직접 만드는 참에 하나 더 만들어 드릴까요?

   Since I’m making them anyway, shall I do one more for you?

6. 회의가 끝난 참에 남은 일을 정리했습니다.

   With the meeting over, I tidied up what was left.

Compared with

• -(으)려던 참이다

  The pair to keep straight. 려던 참이다 says you had not started yet; -는 참에 says you already are, so you may as well.

  나가려던 참이었어요. (I was about to leave)  /  나가는 참에 들렀어요. (since I was going anyway)

• -는 김에

  Very close in meaning. 김에 stresses taking the opportunity; 참에 stresses the timing of the moment.

  나가는 김에 사 올게요. (while I’m at it)  /  나가는 참에 확인했어요. (just as I was going)

• -(으)ㄴ/는 판에

  Both name a juncture, with opposite colouring. 참에 is a lucky moment; 판에 is a dire one.

  나가는 참에 들렀어요. (conveniently)  /  바쁜 판에 무슨 여행이냐. (at a time like this)

Watch out

• 직접 만들는 참에 하나 더 만들까요?

  직접 만드는 참에 하나 더 만들까요?

  Stems ending in ㄹ drop it before -는, as everywhere in the modifier system.

• 내일 나가는 참에 사 올게요.

  나가는 참에 사 올게요.

  참 is the present moment. A plan for tomorrow takes -는 김에 or a plain conditional.

• 마침 나가는참에 우편함을 확인했어요.

  마침 나가는 참에 우편함을 확인했어요.

  참 is a noun and takes a space after the modifier.

Next

← All TOPIK 6 grammar