延伸
yánshēn · HSK 5
extend
📏 延伸 = 延 (prolong) + 伸 (stretch)
延 means prolong or extend in time/space; 伸 means stretch out (like stretching a limb). Together they reinforce the idea of something reaching further — a road, a deadline, or an argument that extends outward.
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.
伸 — person radical 亻 + 申 (extend/state)
伸 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The left side 亻 (person) gives the meaning, suggesting a body action, while 申 originally depicted lightning stretching across the sky and supplies the sound. Together they convey the idea of a person stretching or extending.