延長

• Reading: えんちょう
• Romaji: enchou
• Kanji breakdown: 延 (en) — extend, postpone; 長 (chou) — long, leader
• Pronunciation: /eɴ.tɕoː/

Meaning

Extension; prolongation; the act of extending time, length, or a deadline.

Used as both a noun and a する-verb. Applies to extending time limits, contracts, deadlines, roads, or abstract concepts. Very common in business, sports (overtime), and daily life. Often seen in compounds like 延長戦 (overtime game) and 延長線 (extension line).

Examples

1. ビザの延長手続きを大使館で行った。 I completed the visa extension process at the embassy.
2. 会議が延長して予定より一時間遅れた。 The meeting ran over and finished an hour later than scheduled.
3. 試合は延長戦に突入した。 The game went into overtime.

Usage Guide

Context: business, sports, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 延 (extend, stretch) + 長 (long). Both kanji convey the sense of lengthening, making this a natural pairing in Sino-Japanese vocabulary.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal