延 (yán) is a versatile verb meaning 'to extend' (in time or length) or 'to delay/postpone'. It often combines with other characters to form specific compounds: 延长 (yáncháng) for extending time or length, 延期 (yánqī) for postponing a deadline, and 延误 (yánwù) for causing a delay. Unlike 伸 (shēn), which means 'to stretch' a body part or object physically, 延 focuses on temporal or abstract extension.