延长
yáncháng · HSK 4
lengthen
📏 延 = extend/prolong + 长 = long; together = make longer
延 means to extend or postpone; 长 means long. The compound literally stacks 'extend' + 'long' to mean lengthen or prolong. Common in 延长时间 (extend the time) and 延长线 (extension cord).
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.
长 — pictograph of long-haired person with cane
Originally a pictograph showing a person with long, flowing hair leaning on a cane, representing an elder. The meaning extended from 'long hair' to 'long' in general, and also to 'elder' or 'to grow' (read zhǎng). The modern form 长 is a simplification of the traditional 長.