Google translate is giving me nothing for this word and

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1

google translate is giving me nothing for this word and the text I’m reading has the word in this sentence:
어제 친구들하고 학교 헬스장에 가다가 성은 씨를 봤어요. 친구들하고

What does it mean and what is its usage?

2

I believe its the 다가 pattern being used here.

TalkToMeInKorean has a good resource on the grammatical pattern at play:
http://www.talktomeinkorean.com/lessons/level-5-lesson-9/

In this case its the verb to go (가다) with the 다가 pattern.

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Thank you for directing me to that resource.

4

“어제 친구들하고 학교 헬스장에 가다가 성은 씨를 봤어요.”
=> I saw Seong Eun on my way to the school health club with my friends.

There are actually a few related but different usages of it (#1 being the most common).

  1. something (unplanned) happens while another thing is going on.
  • 요리를 하다가 손을 베였다: I cut my hand while I was cooking.
  • 공부를 하다가 잠이 들었다: I fell asleep while studying.
  1. change/transition to something new after doing something for a while.
  • 서울에 20년 동안 살다가 올해 여기로 이사 왔어요: I moved here this year after living in Seoul for 20 years.
  • XX 사에 근무하다가 YY로 이직했어요: I used to work at the XX company but have moved to YY now.
  • 해 보다가 안 되면 다른 방도를 찾자: We’ll give it a try, and if it doesn’t work we’ll look for a different way.
  1. do something for a specific purpose or as a preparation.
  • 이 일은 외부 사람 데려다가 시켜야겠다: I think I’ll bring someone from outside to do this work.
  • 이 국을 할아버지께 갖다가 드려요: Take this soup and give it to Grandfather.
  1. alternate between two different activities.
  • 울다가 웃다가 했다: I laughed and cried in turn.
  • 비가 왔다가 그쳤다가 한다 / 비가 오다가 말다가 한다: It is raining on and off.

In all cases, -다가 is often shortened to -다.
So 헬스장에 가다 성은 씨를 봤어요, 요리를 하다 손을 베였다, 비가 오다 말다 한다, etc. are common, especially in conversation.

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Thank you so much, this is very helpful.