to defer, to delay, to postpone

JLPT N5 6 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage of

The character (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

  • (yánchí): to delay or postpone an event or action.
  • 延长 (yáncháng): to extend duration or length of time.

Nuances

When using , 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, 会议 suggests the meeting is postponed due to circumstances, while 延长签证 is a formal extension.

Confusions

Do not confuse with 推迟 (tuīchí), which also means 'to postpone' but is more general and less formal. often appears in compound words and is more formal or technical.

Summary

Use when talking about official or planned extensions or delays, especially in written or formal spoken Chinese. It pairs well with words like (late) and (long) to specify the type of extension or delay.

Example Sentences

The meeting was delayed because the important guest was late.

He applied to extend the validity of his visa.

To complete the project, the boss decided to extend working hours.