Meaning and Usage
"延期" (yánqī) means to postpone or delay an event, deadline, or scheduled activity. It is commonly used in formal and informal contexts when something planned cannot happen at the original time.
Common Contexts
You will often see "延期" used with events like meetings, exams, competitions, or project deadlines. For example, "比赛延期" means the match is postponed.
Collocations and Patterns
- 延期 + 名词 (e.g., 截止日期, 比赛, 会议): to postpone a deadline, match, or meeting.
- 申请延期: to apply for an extension or delay.
- 被延期: passive form indicating something has been postponed.
Nuances
Using "延期" implies a formal or official decision to delay. It differs from casual delay words like "拖延" which can imply procrastination. "延期" often involves a new agreed-upon time.
Common Confusion
Do not confuse "延期" with "延长" (to extend). "延期" focuses on pushing the time later, while "延长" means to lengthen the duration of something.