延 (yán) — to extend; to prolong (in time or length); to delay; to postpone
Definition
延 is a written/formal verb for 'to extend' or 'to delay' (time, deadlines, events). Paired with 长 it means extend (延长); paired with 期, 误, 缓 it means postpone or delay — 延 alone rarely stretches in space the way 伸 does.
verb
to extendto prolong (in time or length)to delayto postpone
Examples
- 。Wǒ men xū yào yán cháng hé zuò qī xiàn.We need to extend the cooperation period.
- 。Zhè cì huó dòng yán qī le.This event has been postponed.
- ，。Yóu yú tiān qì yuán yīn, háng bān yán wù le.The flight was delayed due to weather.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
- 彳彳chìwalking
- 止止zhǐfoot
The shape of 延 adds a top stroke to a form showing 彳 (walking) and 止 (foot), originally meaning to travel far, to show prolonging.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.