拖延

tuōyán

verb HSK 7-9 #5,491

Meanings

1 to delay; to put off
2 to procrastinate

Characters

to drag; to delay

to extend; to postpone

Both characters mean to stretch time out — dragging something further and further.

Examples

别再拖延了，赶紧做吧。

Bié zài tuōyán le, gǎnjǐn zuò ba.

Stop procrastinating and just do it.

拖延症是很多人的毛病。

Tuōyánzhèng shì hěnduō rén de máobìng.

Procrastination is a problem many people have.

Tips

usage

拖延症 (tuōyánzhèng, 'procrastination disorder') is a hugely popular internet buzzword in China. People self-diagnose with it constantly — 我有拖延症 ('I have procrastination syndrome') is practically a meme.

Stroke Order

拖 tuō

延 yán