延 means “prolong, extend, postpone”

えん · en

Also: stretching

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

のびる, のべる, のべ, のばす

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

エン

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 6 · 8 strokes

The story

A long stride (廴) with a foot (止) reaching out past it: stretching things further than planned. 延期 is a postponement, 延長 an extension or extra innings, and when trains run late, Japanese stations hand out 遅延証明書, slips proving the delay.

Used in 延期 (enki, postponement), 延長 (enchou, extension), and 延びる (nobiru, to be extended/put off)

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Learn 延 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.