Translation guide
The English word 'delay' can refer to a postponement, a period of waiting, or the act of making something late. In Japanese, different words and expressions are used depending on whether you are talking about a scheduled event being pushed back, a train being late, a response being slow, or intentionally stalling. This guide covers the most natural ways to express these nuances.
To say that something planned has been moved to a later time or date.
The most common word for postponing an event, meeting, or deadline. It implies a deliberate decision to reschedule.
会議は来週に延期されました。
The meeting has been postponed to next week.
旅行を延期しなければならなかった。
I had to delay my trip.
To put something off, often with a nuance of procrastination. Used for tasks or decisions.
決断を先延ばしにしてはいけない。
You shouldn't delay making a decision.
Formal term for delay, often used in official contexts like transportation schedules or project timelines.
工事の遅延が問題になっている。
The construction delay has become a problem.
To describe a situation where something is not on time, such as a train, a person, or a process.
The most common verb for being late or delayed. Can be used for trains, people, payments, etc.
電車が10分遅れています。
The train is delayed by 10 minutes.
彼はいつも約束の時間に遅れる。
He is always late for appointments.
To experience a delay, often used for schedules or processes.
作業に遅れが出ている。
There is a delay in the work.
Formal noun for delay, often seen in transportation announcements.
To describe the act of deliberately causing a delay, often for strategic reasons.
To drag out or prolong something, such as a negotiation or a response.
彼は返事を引き延ばした。
He delayed his reply.
Transitive verb meaning to delay something or someone.
To refer to the time between an expected event and its occurrence.
Noun form of 遅れる, meaning a delay or lateness.
遅れは30分ほどです。
The delay is about 30 minutes.
Time lag, often used in technical or communication contexts.
延期 (postponement) is used when an event is rescheduled to a later date. 遅延 is a formal term for delays, especially in transportation or official contexts. 遅れ is the most general and common word for being late or behind schedule.
イベントは延期になった。
The event was postponed.
電車の遅延が発生しています。
Train delays are occurring.
遅れを取り戻す。
To make up for the delay.
遅延 is a formal word. In everyday conversation, use 遅れる or 遅れ instead. Using 遅延 in casual speech can sound stiff or overly technical.
遅れてすみません。
Sorry for the delay.
悪天候のため、飛行機が遅れました。
The flight was delayed due to bad weather.
プロジェクトを延期することにしました。
We decided to delay the project.
We are currently experiencing train delays.
To buy time, to stall for time.
彼は時間を稼ぐために質問をした。
He asked a question to delay (buy time).
I delayed the departure.
通信にタイムラグがある。
There is a delay in communication.