Translation guide
How to express making something longer in Japanese, covering physical extension, temporal prolongation, and metaphorical stretching.
Extend the length of an object, such as a rope, skirt, or road.
The most general and safe way to say 'make longer'. Works for most physical objects.
このスカートを長くしてください。
Please lengthen this skirt.
ロープを長くする必要がある。
We need to lengthen the rope.
To stretch or extend something, often implying pulling or straightening. Used for elastic things, limbs, hair, etc.
髪を伸ばしています。
I'm growing my hair long (lengthening my hair).
腕を伸ばして取ってください。
Please reach out and grab it (lengthen your arm).
Formal term for extending length, often used for roads, railways, or abstract things like deadlines. Sounds technical.
道路を延長する工事が始まった。
Construction to lengthen the road has begun.
To lengthen by adding a piece or splicing. Used for ropes, wires, or when physically joining something.
コードが短いので継ぎ足した。
The cord was too short, so I lengthened it (by splicing).
Extend the duration of an event, deadline, or period.
Standard term for extending a time limit, deadline, or duration. Used for visas, contracts, meetings, etc.
滞在を延長したいのですが。
I'd like to lengthen my stay.
会議を30分延長します。
We will lengthen the meeting by 30 minutes.
To cause something to drag on or be prolonged, often with a negative nuance. Used for meetings, illnesses, wars.
Often implies an undesirable prolongation.
議論を長引かせてしまった。
I ended up lengthening the discussion (making it drag on).
To stretch out time deliberately, often to delay something. Can be used for negotiations or stories.
Prolong a vowel or consonant sound in speech.
Used for lengthening a sound or syllable when speaking or singing.
その音を伸ばして歌ってください。
Please lengthen that note when you sing.
「あ」を伸ばして言う。
Pronounce 'a' lengthened.
Cause a shadow or reflection to become elongated.
Intransitive, but often used in causative form or with 'させる' to mean 'make longer'. For shadows, it's common to say 'shadow lengthens' and imply the cause.
Japanese often uses intransitive verbs where English uses transitive. '影を長くする' is possible but less natural.
夕日で影が長くなった。
The setting sun lengthened the shadows. (Lit. Shadows became long due to the setting sun.)
Intransitive verb for something stretching or extending. Often used for shadows naturally growing longer.
午後になると影が伸びる。
In the afternoon, shadows lengthen.
伸ばす (nobasu) implies stretching or extending something flexible (hair, limbs, elastic). 延長する (enchō suru) is formal and used for deadlines, roads, or abstract extensions. 長くする (nagaku suru) is the most general and safe for physical length.
English 'lengthen' is often transitive, but Japanese prefers intransitive expressions for natural phenomena like shadows. Saying '影を長くする' is grammatical but sounds forced. Use '影が長くなる' or '影が伸びる' instead.
このズボンを長くしてもらえますか？
Can you lengthen these pants?
日が長くなってきている。
The days are lengthening.
締め切りを延長する必要があります。
We need to lengthen the deadline.
彼は話を引き延ばした。
He lengthened the story (stretched it out).