This means that right when you were about to do something, something else happened. It was often something bad or annoying.
Verb [volitional form] + とした矢先にPrimary
This means that right when you were about to do something, something else happened. It was often something bad or annoying.
家を出ようとした矢先に、突然大雨が降ってきた。
Just as I was about to leave the house, it suddenly started pouring with rain.
重要なファイルを保存しようとした矢先に、パソコンがフリーズしてしまった。
Just as I was about to save the important file, the computer froze.
勇気を出して告白しようとした矢先に、彼女から「友達でいよう」と言われ、何も言えなくなった。
Just as I worked up the courage to confess my feelings, she told me 'let's just be friends', and I was left speechless.
ゴールを決めようとした矢先に、相手ディフェンダーにボールを奪われてしまった。
Just as I was about to score a goal, the opposing defender stole the ball from me.
やっと飛行機に乗ろうとした矢先に、搭乗券をなくしたことに気づき、青ざめた。
Just as I was finally about to board the plane, I realized I had lost my boarding pass and turned pale.
Imagine you are about to shoot an arrow. This phrase describes the exact moment you let go. But then something bad happens right away. It means your plan was stopped very suddenly.
This phrase is different from "~ところに". That phrase can be for good or bad interruptions. This phrase is almost always for bad things. It is also different from "~た矢先に". That means something just finished. This phrase means something was just about to start.
Don't use this when you choose to do something else. For example, you wouldn't say "I was about to leave, then I watched TV." The TV watching was your choice.
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