延迟 (yánchí) is a verb meaning 'to delay' or 'to postpone' — that is, to cause something to happen later than originally planned or expected. The first character 延 (yán) means 'to extend' or 'to stretch out in time or space', while 迟 (chí) means 'late' or 'slowed down'; together, they form a compound expressing the idea of pushing an action or event backward in time. It is commonly used in formal and neutral contexts, especially when discussing schedules, deadlines, transportation, technology, or official procedures.

This word often appears with objects like meetings, flights, deliveries, payments, or software updates. Unlike more colloquial alternatives such as 拖 (tuō, 'to drag out'), 延迟 carries a relatively objective, impersonal tone — it’s frequently found in announcements, news reports, and written instructions. It can also function as a noun ('a delay') in contexts like 造成延迟 (zàochéng yánchí, 'to cause a delay').