延
yán · HSK 7
to extend
⏳ 廴 the long-stride radical = stretch your steps out, so to extend, prolong, delay
Built on 廴, the long-stride radical that means walking far. Stretching out a stride gives the sense of extending, prolonging, or delaying. Also a surname, Yan.
延 — 廴 (long stride) + 㥯/丿 + 止 (foot)
延 originally depicted a foot (止) on a road or path (廴), suggesting walking a long way. From this came the meanings 'to extend,' 'to prolong,' and 'to delay.' The modern form retains 廴 on the left as the semantic clue for movement and extension.