yánwù: 延误 - To Delay, Postpone, Hold up

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• Summary: Learn the crucial Chinese term 延误 (yánwù), which means “to delay” or “a delay.” More than just a simple postponement, `延误` specifically refers to a delay caused by external factors that results in being late and has negative consequences. It is most commonly used for travel, such as a flight delay (`航班延误`), but also applies to formal situations like project deadlines and deliveries. Understanding `延误` is essential for navigating modern life and travel in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yánwù
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To be delayed or held up, causing something to be late.
• In a Nutshell: Think of `延误` as a “delay with a bad result.” It’s not just about something happening later than planned; it’s about that delay causing a problem, like missing your connection, being late for an important meeting, or a project failing to meet its deadline. The feeling is one of inconvenience and disruption, usually due to circumstances beyond your control (like bad weather or a technical issue).

• 延 (yán): This character means “to extend,” “to stretch,” or “to prolong.” Imagine stretching a piece of dough or extending a deadline. It's about making something last longer in time or space.
• 误 (wù): This character means “mistake,” “error,” or “to miss (an opportunity).” It implies something has gone wrong or has been hindered.
• When combined, 延误 (yánwù) literally means “extended until it's a mistake” or “prolonged to the point of missing something.” This perfectly captures the essence of a delay that causes you to be late and negatively impacts your plans.

While not a deep philosophical term, `延误` taps into the high value placed on punctuality (准时 - zhǔnshí) and efficiency (效率 - xiàolǜ) in modern Chinese society, especially in business and transportation. China's rapid development has created a culture where schedules are tight and plans are important. A `延误` is therefore not just a minor inconvenience; it's a significant disruption to a well-ordered system. Compared to the general English word “delay,” `延误` is more specific and formal. In English, you might say “I'm delayed” for being five minutes late. In Chinese, for such a minor, personal delay, you'd more likely say `我会晚一点到 (wǒ huì wǎn yīdiǎn dào)` - “I'll be a little late.” `延误`, on the other hand, is the official term you'll see on airport announcement boards or hear in formal apologies from a company. It signifies a serious, often large-scale disruption to a formal schedule, absolving the individuals involved of personal blame and placing it on larger, external circumstances.

`延误` is a formal and very practical term you will encounter frequently.

• Travel and Transportation: This is the most common context. You will see, hear, and use it for flights, trains, and buses. It is the standard official term for any delay in public transport.
  • `航班延误 (hángbān yánwù)` - Flight delay
  • `火车晚点/延误 (huǒchē wǎndiǎn/yánwù)` - Train delay (晚点 is more common in speech for trains)
• Business and Logistics: In a professional setting, `延误` is used to talk about missed deadlines and logistical problems.
  • `项目延误 (xiàngmù yánwù)` - Project delay
  • `交货延误 (jiāohuò yánwù)` - Delivery delay
• Formality and Connotation: `延误` is almost always negative in connotation because it implies a failure to adhere to a schedule. It is considered a formal word, suitable for written notices, official announcements, and business correspondence.

• Example 1:
  • 因为天气不好，我们的航班延误了三个小时。
  • Pinyin: Yīnwèi tiānqì bù hǎo, wǒmen de hángbān yánwù le sān gè xiǎoshí.
  • English: Because of the bad weather, our flight was delayed for three hours.
  • Analysis: A classic and extremely common example. The delay is caused by an external factor (weather) and the result is being late.
• Example 2:
  • 对于本次列车延误，我们深表歉意。
  • Pinyin: Duìyú běn cì lièchē yánwù, wǒmen shēn biǎo qiànyì.
  • English: We sincerely apologize for the delay of this train.
  • Analysis: This is formal, official language you would hear in a train station announcement. `延误` is used here as a noun.
• Example 3:
  • 如果包裹延误了，请及时联系客服。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ bāoguǒ yánwù le, qǐng jíshí liánxì kèfú.
  • English: If the package is delayed, please contact customer service in a timely manner.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the use of `延误` in e-commerce and logistics.
• Example 4:
  • 任何的延误都可能导致整个项目失败。
  • Pinyin: Rènhé de yánwù dōu kěnéng dǎozhì zhěnggè xiàngmù shībài.
  • English: Any delay could lead to the failure of the entire project.
  • Analysis: Here, `延误` is a noun representing a serious business risk.
• Example 5:
  • 由于设备故障，手术被延误了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú shèbèi gùzhàng, shǒushù bèi yánwù le.
  • English: The surgery was delayed due to equipment failure.
  • Analysis: Shows `延误` being used in a serious, non-travel context. The passive voice with `被 (bèi)` is common.
• Example 6:
  • 我不想延误你的宝贵时间。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bùxiǎng yánwù nǐ de bǎoguì shíjiān.
  • English: I don't want to hold up your precious time.
  • Analysis: While `耽误 (dānwù)` is more common for “wasting someone's time,” `延误` can be used here in a very formal or polite way to mean “cause a delay to your schedule.”
• Example 7:
  • 公司对因延误造成的损失负责。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī duì yīn yánwù zàochéng de sǔnshī fùzé.
  • English: The company is responsible for the losses caused by the delay.
  • Analysis: A legal or business context where `延误` (as a noun) is the cause of financial damage.
• Example 8:
  • 恶劣的交通状况延误了救援工作。
  • Pinyin: Èliè de jiāotōng zhuàngkuàng yánwù le jiùyuán gōngzuò.
  • English: The terrible traffic conditions delayed the rescue work.
  • Analysis: `延误` is used as a verb to show an external factor (traffic) impacting a critical process.
• Example 9:
  • 乘客们因飞机延误而感到非常不满。
  • Pinyin: Chéngkèmen yīn fēijī yánwù ér gǎndào fēicháng bùmǎn.
  • English: The passengers were very dissatisfied due to the flight delay.
  • Analysis: Highlights the negative emotional consequence associated with a `延误`.
• Example 10:
  • 政府警告说，进一步的延误是不可接受的。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ jǐnggào shuō, jìnyībù de yánwù shì bùkě jiēshòu de.
  • English: The government warned that further delays would be unacceptable.
  • Analysis: Used as a noun in a high-stakes, political, or major project context.

The biggest challenge for learners is distinguishing `延误` from similar-sounding words.

• `延误 (yánwù)` vs. `延迟 (yánchí)`
  • `延误 (yánwù)` implies a negative consequence. It's a delay that makes you late. The focus is on the *result* of being behind schedule.
    • Correct: `航班延误了 (hángbān yánwù le)` - The flight was delayed (and is now late).
  • `延迟 (yánchí)` is more neutral. It simply means to postpone or push back the start time of an event. The event might still happen on its new schedule without being considered “late.” The focus is on the *action* of rescheduling.
    • Correct: `会议延迟到下午三点 (huìyì yánchí dào xiàwǔ sān diǎn)` - The meeting is postponed to 3 PM.
  • Common Mistake: Saying `会议延误到下午三点`. This is incorrect. A meeting is intentionally postponed (`延迟`), not accidentally made late (`延误`). You would only use `延误` if something unexpected caused the meeting to start later than its scheduled time, making everyone wait.
• `延误 (yánwù)` vs. `耽误 (dānwù)`
  • `延误 (yánwù)` is usually caused by large, impersonal forces (weather, traffic, technical problems).
  • `耽误 (dānwù)` is more personal. It means “to hold someone up” or “to negatively affect an important task through delay,” often due to someone's action or inaction. It has a stronger sense of blame or personal consequence.
    • Example: `别耽误我时间 (bié dānwù wǒ shíjiān)` - Don't waste my time.
    • Example: `因为堵车，我耽误了重要的面试 (yīnwèi dǔchē, wǒ dānwù le zhòngyào de miànshì)` - Because of the traffic jam, I was held up and missed my important interview. (Here the focus is on the personal consequence of missing the interview).

• 延迟 (yánchí) - A neutral synonym meaning “to postpone.” It refers to the act of pushing something back, not the negative result of being late.
• 耽误 (dānwù) - To hold up, to waste time, to negatively affect an important event through delay. It's more personal than `延误`.
• 推迟 (tuīchí) - A common synonym for `延迟`, meaning to postpone or put off to a later time.
• 晚点 (wǎndiǎn) - Literally “late point.” A very common, slightly less formal term for trains and planes being late. It describes the state of being delayed.
• 按时 (ànshí) - The direct antonym: on time, on schedule.
• 准时 (zhǔnshí) - The antonym: punctual, on time. Emphasizes the quality of a person or service being punctual.
• 取消 (qǔxiāo) - To cancel. This is often the ultimate negative outcome after a long `延误`.
• 航班 (hángbān) - A scheduled flight. A word that frequently appears with `延误`.
• 故障 (gùzhàng) - A malfunction or breakdown. A common reason for a `延误`.