延时 (yán shí) — to delay, to postpone (time)

Definition

延时 (yánshí) means to delay or postpone for a set time — focuses on a measurable interval (seconds, minutes) rather than a general rescheduling. Often used technically (broadcast, systems, devices) or as a separable verb (延时…开始).

verb
to delayto postpone (time)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 延时。
    Zhè ge xì tǒng huì zì dòng yán shí liǎng miǎo.
    This system will automatically delay by two seconds.
  • 延时，。
    Zhí bō yǒu yán shí, suǒ yǐ huà miàn bǐ shēng yīn màn.
    The live broadcast has a delay, so the picture is slower than the sound.
  • 。
    Tā yán le wǔ miǎo de shí cái kāi shǐ.
    He delayed by five seconds before starting.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

延yánextend
时shítime

延 means to extend or put off, and 时 is time, so the action puts time later.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

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.

Open 延 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī時shí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

Open 时 →

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