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March 24, 2026
延yán(Yan2)
The character 延 (yán) primarily means 'to prolong' or 'to extend.' It is commonly used in contexts such as extending a deadline or prolonging a meeting. Additionally, it can also be a surname in China.
Strokes6Radical廴Frequency#7698DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of extending time is often linked to the importance of relationships and obligations, such as extending a visit or delaying a response to maintain harmony.
Memory Tip
Imagine a long stretch of road that seems to go on forever – that's the essence of 延 (yán). The radical '延' resembles a person reaching out to extend something, helping you remember both its shape and meaning.
Meanings of 延
yán(Yan2)
1to prolong
2to extend
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 延
延Simplified
6Strokes
廴Radical
简称abbreviation (abbr.)Part of Speech
#7698Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 延
Podcast: 延
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AI Study Notes for 延
Quick Contrast
延 (yán) vs 伸 (shēn) — use 延 when referring to prolonging time or duration, whereas 伸 is used for physical extension or stretching.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 延 with other similar-sounding words. It's important to use it in contexts involving time or distance. Additionally, be mindful of its formal usage, especially when discussing deadlines or events.
HSK Study Tips
While 延 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with words related to time management and planning found in HSK levels 3-4. Focus on using it in practical sentences about scheduling.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 延 in informal contexts or with incorrect tones. For instance, saying '我延了我的工作' is wrong; it should be '我推迟了我的工作' (Wǒ tuīchíle wǒ de gōngzuò) meaning 'I postponed my work.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 延
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1The giveawayA foot on the road 㢟 stopped in its tracks 丿
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 延? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 延?
Decomposition of 延
IDS Structure⿱丿㢟
延Full Character
=
丿pie3
top
㢟chan1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 延?
How to say to prolong in Chinese
“to prolong” in Chinese is延yán
The character 延 (yán) primarily means 'to prolong' or 'to extend.' It is commonly used in contexts such as extending a deadline or prolonging a meeting. Additionally, it can also be a surname in China.
When to use 延
Learners often confuse 延 with other similar-sounding words. It's important to use it in contexts involving time or distance. Additionally, be mindful of its formal usage, especially when discussing deadlines or events.
延 or something close to it
延 (yán) vs 伸 (shēn) — use 延 when referring to prolonging time or duration, whereas 伸 is used for physical extension or stretching.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 延 in informal contexts or with incorrect tones. For instance, saying '我延了我的工作' is wrong; it should be '我推迟了我的工作' (Wǒ tuīchíle wǒ de gōngzuò) meaning 'I postponed my work.'
Write 延
延
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Practice writing 延 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 延
延 carries 5 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
