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延 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
延yánsurname YanHSK 7, j, 6 strokes, radical 廴, rank #7698, Hard
延yánto prolongHSK 7, j, 6 strokes, radical 廴, rank #7698, Hard
延yánto extendHSK 7, j, 6 strokes, radical 廴, rank #7698, Hard
延yánto delayHSK 7, j, 6 strokes, radical 廴, rank #7698, Hard
延yánto defer, to delay, to postpone; to extend, to prolong; surnameHSK 7, j, 6 strokes, radical 廴, rank #7698, Hard
yán(Yan2) T2
  1. 1to prolong
  2. 2to extend
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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#7698DifficultyHard
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

JasonAmy

Podcast: 延

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

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.

Memory Mnemonic

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.

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.

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.

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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Etymology of 延

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A foot on the road 㢟 stopped in its tracks 丿

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
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?

Write 延

延

Practice writing 延 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

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.

Related grammar lessons3
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

一旦考试不及格，我就要____期毕业了。

If I fail the exam, I will have to postpone my graduation.

Common Confusions with 延

延vs言
yán

Both characters are pronounced the same but have different meanings and usages.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "to prolong"?

or

Usage Notes for 延

Misusing 延 in the context of delayCommon Error

Learners often confuse 延 with other terms related to delay and may use it incorrectly in formal contexts.

1

我们需要延这个会议。

We need to delay this meeting.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

我们需要____这个会议。

We need to delay this meeting.

Example Sentences for 延 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
传染病正在遭受洪灾的很多灾民中蔓延。

chuán rǎn bìng zhèng zài zāo shòu hóng zāi de hěn duō zāi mín zhōng màn yán。

Infectious diseases are spreading among many of the flood victims.
2
一系列技术问题延误了新产品的上市。

yī xì liè jì shù wèn tí yán wù le xīn chǎn pǐn de shàng shì。

A series of technical foul-ups delayed the launch of the new product.
3
一场严重的森林大火的蔓延使得形势更加复杂。

yī cháng yán zhòng de sēn lín dà huǒ de màn yán shǐ dé xíng shì gēng jiā fù zá。

The situation was complicated by the spread of a serious forest fire.
4
他赞成增加每天的课时并延长学年。

tā zàn chéng zēng jiā měi tiān de kè shí bìng yán cháng xué nián。

He favors extending the school day and school year.
5
两个团体都有延续历史的传统。

liǎng gè tuán tǐ dū yǒu yán xù lì shǐ de chuán tǒng。

Both communities have a tradition of keeping history alive.
6
我不能断定这样延迟是好还是坏.

wǒ bù néng duàn dìng zhè yàng yán chí shì hǎo huán shì huài.

I couldn't judge whether the delay was good or bad.
7
“那仅仅会延迟不可避免之事的发生，”他说。

“ “ nà jǐn jǐn huì yán chí bù kě bì miǎn zhī shì de fā，” shēng ，”。

"It's just delaying the inevitable," he said.
8
那条路经过村子后又往上延伸到群山中。

nà tiáo lù jīng guò cūn zǐ hòu yòu wǎng shàng yán shēn dào qún shān zhōng。

The road continues beyond the village up into the hills.
9
四处蔓延的政治和经济混乱可能会使宪法变得可有可无。

sì chǔ màn yán de zhèng zhì hé jīng jì hùn luàn kě néng huì shǐ xiàn fǎ biàn dé kě yǒu kě wú。

Widespread political and economic disarray threatens to make the constitution meaningless.
10
他不想靠人为方式延长生命。

tā bù xiǎng kào rén wéi fāng shì yán cháng shēng mìng。

He did not want his life to be prolonged by artificial means.

Cultural Notes for 延

🏮Cultural insight

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.

Word Family of 延

Compounds10
诞dan4birth
涎xian2saliva
筵yan2bamboo mat; banquet, feast
蜒yan2millipede
挻
埏shan1boundary, limit
唌
娫
誕dan4to give birth, to bear children; birth, birthday
駳
Words Containing This Character20
延长yánchángto prolong延長
延续yánxùto continue延續
拖延tuōyánto delay
延伸yánshēnto extend
延yánto prolong
蔓延mànyánto extend
延期yánqīto delay
延迟to delay延遲
延误yánwùto delay延誤
延缓yánhuǎnto defer延緩
延安Yan'an prefecture level city in Shaanxi, communist headquarters during the war
延边Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture 延邊朝鮮族自治州|延边朝鲜族自治州 in Jilin province 吉林省 in northeast China, capital Yanji city 延吉市延邊
绵延a continuous link綿延
苟延残喘to struggle on whilst at death's door (idiom)苟延殘喘
外延extension (semantics)
顺延to postpone順延
延年益寿to make life longer延年益壽
延展to extend
延庆Yanqing county in Beijing延慶
延吉Yanji county level city, capital of Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture 延邊朝鮮族自治州|延边朝鲜族自治州, Jilin
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 诞 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 延

You can say '我延长了会议' (Wǒ yánchángle huìyì) which means 'I extended the meeting.'