Translation guide
How to express the idea of extending something in space or time, or stretching one's body, in natural Japanese.
To physically stretch something out, like an arm, leg, or a piece of material.
Transitive verb meaning to stretch or extend something. Used for limbs, objects, or abstract things like time.
腕を伸ばして取ってください。
Please stretch out your arm and grab it.
彼は脚を伸ばしてリラックスした。
He stretched out his legs and relaxed.
Intransitive verb meaning to stretch or extend by itself. Used when something becomes longer or stretches out naturally.
この生地はよく伸びる。
This fabric stretches out well.
Transitive verb meaning to spread or stretch something out flat, like a map or wings.
地図を広げて見せた。
He spread out the map and showed it.
To stretch your muscles, often as a relaxing or warm-up action.
Loanword from English, very common for stretching exercises.
朝起きたらストレッチする。
I stretch out when I wake up in the morning.
Literally 'stretch one's body', a natural phrase for stretching out.
疲れたので体を伸ばした。
I was tired so I stretched out my body.
Specifically means stretching upward, like reaching for something high or a full-body stretch.
彼は背伸びをしてあくびをした。
He stretched out and yawned.
To make something last longer, like a meeting, deadline, or event.
Transitive verb for extending time, deadlines, or durations. Often written with this kanji for temporal extension.
会議を30分延ばした。
We stretched out the meeting by 30 minutes.
Formal verb for extending a period or deadline.
滞在を延長することにした。
We decided to stretch out our stay.
To lie down and stretch your limbs, often to relax.
Literally 'stretch out one's hands and feet', a common phrase for relaxing by stretching out.
家に帰って手足を伸ばした。
I went home and stretched out.
To lie spread-eagled, like the character 大. Implies stretching out completely.
疲れてベッドで大の字になった。
Exhausted, I stretched out on the bed.
To make a limited amount of something last longer.
To manage or make ends meet, often by stretching resources.
少ない予算をやりくりする。
To stretch out a small budget.
To make something last longer, like food or goods.
食料を長持ちさせる方法。
Ways to stretch out your food supplies.