耽搁

• Pinyin: dān ge
• Hanzi breakdown: 耽 = 耳 + 冘 (to linger, delay); 搁 = 扌 + 阁 (to place aside)

Meaning

To delay; to be held up; to waste time on something. Implies an unwanted pause or interruption in progress.

Often used to describe unexpected delays in travel, work, or plans. Carries a sense that the delay is undesirable. Slightly more colloquial than 延误.

Examples

1. 由于交通堵塞，他在路上耽搁了将近两个小时。 Because of the traffic jam, he was delayed on the road for nearly two hours.
2. 这次意外耽搁了整个施工项目的进度。 This accident delayed the progress of the entire construction project.
3. 别在这些小事上耽搁太多时间，要抓紧完成核心工作。 Don't waste too much time on these minor matters; hurry up and finish the core work.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, work, time management

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 路上出了点状况，耽搁了一会儿，请见谅。(Something came up on the way, causing a brief delay — please forgive me.)
• 不要让无关紧要的事耽搁了你的学习计划。(Don't let trivial matters hold up your study plan.)

Don't Say

• 我耽搁了他的工资 — for withholding payment, use 拖欠; 耽搁 refers to delay in time, not the withholding of money or goods

Origin & History

耽 (to linger, delay) + 搁 (to place aside, to delay)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal