Chinese word

延误

Pronunciation

Pinyinyán wù

Meaning

  • verbbe delayed

Example

我的火车因为事故延误了。wǒ de huǒ chē yīn wèi shì gù yán wù le

My train was delayed because of an accident.

Illustration for 延误 (be delayed)

More examples

因为航站楼拥挤，很多航班延误了。yīn wèi háng zhàn lóu yōng jǐ hěn duō háng bān yán wù le

Because the terminal was crowded, many flights were delayed.

Core concept

Time stretches beyond the schedule when an outside problem holds up an event or task.

Common phrases

  • 航班延误háng bān yán wù

    flight delayed

  • 列车延误liè chē yán wù

    train delayed

  • 因天气延误yīn tiān qì yán wù

    delayed due to weather

Similar words

延迟yán chí: Setting a planned time or deadline later than first arranged.
推迟tuī chí: Choosing to move a planned event or task to a later time or date.
耽搁dān gē: Holding up movement or work so that progress stops for a while.
拖延tuō yán: Putting off a needed task instead of doing it when due.

Definition in Chinese

指使原定时间向后推移，通常因外部因素或意外而发生，既可指事件本身被耽误，也可指导致他事推迟的情况。zhí shǐ yuán dìng shí jiān xiàng hòu tuī yí tōng cháng yīn wài bù yīn sù huò yì wài ér fā shēng jì kě zhǐ shì jiàn běn shēn bèi dān wù yě kě zhǐ dǎo zhì tā shì tuī chí de qíng kuàng

Word origin

延 (yán, "extend") points to time continuing, while 误 (wù, "hold up or miss") adds a failure to meet the intended timing, so together they describe a delay.

Usage tips

  • The word suits transport, appointments, shipments, and projects, so learning it as a travel-only term leaves out many ordinary uses.

Other meanings

  • delayverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 延误率yán wù lǜdelay ratenoun
  • 延误费yán wù fèidelay feenoun
  • 延误赔偿yán wù péi chángdelay compensationnoun

Word lists with this word