verb HSK 5
to extend · to prolong · to delay · to postpone
Meaning
延 means to stretch out, extend, or prolong something in time or space. It commonly appears in formal contexts or written Chinese when discussing extending deadlines, prolonging life, or delaying events. The character can be used alone but more frequently appears in compound words.
Usage
延 is relatively formal and is more common in written language than casual speech. It typically combines with other characters to form words like 延长 (to extend), 延期 (to postpone), or 延迟 (to delay). When used alone, it's often in classical or literary contexts.
Examples
- 01会议将延期到下周举行。.The meeting will be postponed to next week.
- 02火势迅速向周围蔓延。.The fire rapidly spread to the surrounding area.
Common collocations
- 延长寿命to prolong life
- 延期付款to defer payment
- 延误时间to delay time
- 蔓延to spread, to extend
Antonyms
Origin
The character 延 originally depicted a person walking slowly with extended steps, suggesting the idea of prolonging or stretching out. The radical 廴 (yǐn) represents slow movement or extension.