How to Write 延 (yán) — Meaning “To extend / To delay”

Think of a person taking a long step forward (廴) while trying to keep a straight path (like 正, but with the top stroke merged). Imagine saying "I extend my leg forward but then delay because I need to stay correct." This links the left radical for movement with the idea of prolonging or postponing.

Write the left radical 廴 first: a horizontal stroke, then a long downward-left curve, ending with a short upward flick. The right part has four strokes: a horizontal, a short vertical, another horizontal, and a vertical line. A common mistake is making the right part too wide or forgetting the flick at the bottom of 廴 – keep the right part narrow and the radical's tail visible.

廷 (tíng, meaning court or courtyard) shares the same left radical 廴, but its right part is 壬 (rén, often seen in 廷). The right side of 廷 has a horizontal stroke at the top, a short vertical, and a longer horizontal ending with a dot-like shape. In contrast, 延's right part resembles a slightly altered 正, with a vertical line that goes straight down.

延 commonly appears in formal or everyday contexts for postponing events (延期 for postponing a meeting) or extending time (延长 for extending a visa). Culturally, 延期 is often used in announcements for exams or deadlines, reflecting how Chinese culture values careful time management and flexibility.

Common words containing 延 include: 延长 (yán cháng) — To prolong / To extend; 延期 (yán qī) — To postpone / To delay; 延迟 (yán chí) — To delay / To defer.