延伸

• Pinyin: yán shēn
• Hanzi breakdown: 延 = 廴 (long stride) + 丿 + 止 (stop), to prolong; 伸 = 亻 (person) + 申 (to state/stretch), to extend

Meaning

To extend; to stretch; to expand. Used for things that spread outward or continue further in space, time, or scope.

Can be used literally for roads, railway lines, or physical objects that extend, as well as figuratively for ideas, discussions, or influence that expand beyond original boundaries. Often paired with 到 to indicate the endpoint of extension.

Examples

1. 这条高速公路将延伸到边境地区。 This highway will extend to the border region.
2. 我们把讨论延伸到了更广泛的社会问题。 We extended the discussion to broader social issues.
3. 地铁线路延伸之后，郊区的房价涨了不少。 After the subway line was extended, housing prices in the suburbs rose considerably.

Usage Guide

Context: infrastructure, academic, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这条路还会继续延伸。(This road will continue to extend.)
• 话题延伸到了环境保护。(The topic extended to environmental protection.)

Don't Say

• 延伸你的手 (For body parts, use 伸 alone: 伸出你的手, not 延伸你的手)

Origin & History

Compound of 延 (to prolong, extend) and 伸 (to stretch out). Both characters convey the idea of lengthening or spreading.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal