The character 延 (yán) primarily means 'to extend,' 'to delay,' or 'to postpone.' It is often used in formal or official contexts such as meetings, deadlines, visas, or working hours.
Common Collocations
延迟 (yánchí): to delay or postpone an event or action.
延长 (yáncháng): to extend duration or length of time.
Nuances
When using 延, the focus is on pushing something forward in time or lengthening it. It can imply a necessary or strategic delay rather than a casual one. For example, 延迟会议 suggests the meeting is postponed due to circumstances, while 延长签证 is a formal extension.
Confusions
Do not confuse 延 with 推迟 (tuīchí), which also means 'to postpone' but is more general and less formal. 延 often appears in compound words and is more formal or technical.
Summary
Use 延 when talking about official or planned extensions or delays, especially in written or formal spoken Chinese. It pairs well with words like 迟 (late) and 长 (long) to specify the type of extension or delay.
