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How to Say ‘I was thinking of coming, but’ in Japanese

伺おうと思っていたんですが

ukagaou to omotsu te i ta n desu ga

[oo-kah-GAH-oh toh oh-MOHT teh ee tah n dess gah]

💬 Usage Tip: 伺おうと思っていた means "was planning to visit". Swap in other verbs too: 行こうと思っていた "was planning to go".

Phrase Breakdown

伺おうと

ukagaou to

To visit (humble)

'伺おう' is the volitional form of '伺う', the humble verb for 'to visit'. '〜と' leads into 'thinking'. Read it as u-ka-ga-o-u-to.

Example

明日伺おうと考えています。

I'm thinking of visiting tomorrow.

Words in this phrase

伺おう

ukagaou

[oo-kah-GAH-oh]

let's visit (humble volitional)

Volitional form of humble 伺う, 'to visit'.

Example

明日伺おうと思います。

I'm thinking of visiting tomorrow.

と

[toh]

(quotation marker)

Particle that marks what was said or written, like quotation marks.

Example

彼は「はい」と言いました。

He said "yes."

思っていたんですが

omotsu te i ta n desu ga

I was thinking of..., but

'思っていた' means 'was thinking'. '〜んですが' softens the statement and leads into a question. Pause briefly on the small 'っ'.

Example

行こうと思っていたんですが、雨でした。

I was thinking of going, but it rained.

Words in this phrase

思っ

omotsu

[oh-MOHT]

to think

Stem of 思う, to think or suppose.

Example

いい人だと思っています。

I think he's a good person.

て

[teh]

te-form ending

This ending connects actions, like 'cut and...' in instructions.

Example

てをつけると、つぎのどうさにつなげられます。

When you add -te, you can connect it to the next action.

い

[ee]

to be

Part of the ongoing polite form, showing a continuing state.

Example

その方針を守っている会社です。

It is a company that is maintaining that policy.

た

[tah]

past tense ending

This ending completes the polite past tense form.

Example

空席がございました。

There were vacant seats.

ん

[n]

(explanatory n)

Casual form of の; adds a tone of seeking or giving an explanation, often before です.

Example

どうしたんですか。

What happened?

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

が

[gah]

(softening ending)

Ending a sentence with ga softens a request politely.

Example

お願いしたいんですが。

I'd like to ask a favor...

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