Keywords: tuoyan, tuōyán, 拖延, 拖延症, Chinese word for procrastinate, how to say delay in Chinese, put off in Chinese, stop procrastinating, Chinese productivity, HSK 5 vocabulary.
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 拖延 (tuōyán), which means “to procrastinate” or “to delay.” This page breaks down the characters, explores its cultural significance in modern, high-pressure China (including the popular term “拖延症” or “procrastination sickness”), and provides 10 practical example sentences. Understand the key difference between 拖延 (tuōyán) and 推迟 (tuīchí) to avoid common mistakes and use the term like a native speaker.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): tuō yán
Part of Speech: Verb
HSK Level: HSK 5
Concise Definition: To put off doing something that should be done, especially out of laziness or inefficiency; to procrastinate.
In a Nutshell:拖延 (tuōyán) is not just a neutral “delay.” It carries a negative connotation, describing the frustrating and universally understood act of knowing you need to do something but putting it off anyway. It's the word for when you choose to watch one more episode instead of starting your homework or project.
Character Breakdown
拖 (tuō): This character's primary meaning is “to drag,” “to pull,” or “to trail behind.” Imagine physically dragging your feet to avoid going somewhere you don't want to go.
延 (yán): This character means “to extend,” “to prolong,” or “to postpone.” It relates to stretching something out over time.
When combined, 拖延 (tuōyán) creates a vivid image: you are “dragging out” and “extending” the time before you have to do something. This perfectly captures the feeling of reluctantly and unnecessarily drawing out a task.
Cultural Context and Significance
拖延 (tuōyán) is a universally understood concept, but it has a particular resonance in modern China. In a society with immense academic and professional pressure—from the grueling gaokao (college entrance exam) to the “996” (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week) work culture—productivity and efficiency are highly valued.
This pressure has given rise to the extremely popular neologism 拖延症 (tuōyánzhèng), which literally translates to “procrastination sickness/syndrome.” It's a self-deprecating and relatable way for young people to talk about their struggles with procrastination. It's not a formal medical diagnosis but a widely used social term that reflects a shared anxiety about falling behind.
Comparing this to Western culture, the act of procrastination is identical. However, the term 拖延症 (tuōyánzhèng) highlights how in China, this personal failing is often framed as a widespread “syndrome” affecting a generation grappling with intense competition and the fear of failure. It's a way of collectivizing a personal struggle, making it a shared cultural phenomenon.
Practical Usage in Modern China
拖延 (tuōyán) is used frequently in everyday conversation, almost always with a negative tone. People use it to complain about themselves, their colleagues, or their children.
Self-Criticism: It's very common to say something like, “唉，我又拖延了 (Ài, wǒ yòu tuōyán le)” - “Sigh, I procrastinated again.”
Social Media: The hashtag #拖延症 (#tuōyánzhèng) is immensely popular on platforms like Weibo, where users share memes, jokes, and tips about their struggles with procrastination.
Formality: While 拖延 (tuōyán) can be used in formal contexts (e.g., “The project was delayed due to his procrastination”), its derivative 拖延症 (tuōyánzhèng) is decidedly informal and used among peers.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
你不能再拖延了，截止日期就是明天！
Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng zài tuōyán le, jiézhǐ rìqī jiùshì míngtiān!
English: You can't procrastinate anymore, the deadline is tomorrow!
Analysis: This is a classic example of urging someone to stop procrastinating. The context is urgent, highlighting the negative consequences of 拖延.
English: I know I should start writing my thesis, but I'm always procrastinating.
Analysis: This sentence shows the internal conflict of a procrastinator. The structure “我知道…但是…” (I know…but…) is very common when talking about 拖延.
Example 3:
他的拖延习惯给整个团队带来了很多麻烦。
Pinyin: Tā de tuōyán xíguàn gěi zhěnggè tuánduì dài lái le hěnduō máfan.
English: His habit of procrastinating brought a lot of trouble to the whole team.
Analysis: Here, 拖延 is used as part of a noun phrase, 拖延习惯 (habit of procrastinating), to describe a personal trait.
Example 4:
我觉得我有严重的拖延症，怎么办？
Pinyin: Wǒ juéde wǒ yǒu yánzhòng de tuōyánzhèng, zěnme bàn?
English: I think I have serious procrastination syndrome, what should I do?
Analysis: This demonstrates the use of the popular term 拖延症 (tuōyánzhèng). It's informal, self-deprecating, and very common among students and young professionals.
Example 5:
不要把今天的工作拖延到明天。
Pinyin: Búyào bǎ jīntiān de gōngzuò tuōyán dào míngtiān.
English: Don't put off today's work until tomorrow.
Analysis: This uses the common “把…拖延到…” (bǎ…tuōyán dào…) structure, meaning “to delay…until…”. It functions like a well-known proverb.
Example 6:
由于承包商的拖延，这个项目未能按时完成。
Pinyin: Yóuyú chéngbāoshāng de tuōyán, zhège xiàngmù wèinéng ànshí wánchéng.
English: Due to the contractor's delays, this project was not completed on time.
Analysis: This is a more formal example, used in a business or official context. The word 拖延 here clearly assigns blame for the delay.
English: Why do you always like to put things off until the last minute?
Analysis: A common question posed to a procrastinator. “最后一分钟” (the last minute) is a frequent companion of the word 拖延.
Example 8:
克服拖延的第一步是承认你有这个问题。
Pinyin: Kèfú tuōyán de dì yī bù shì chéngrèn nǐ yǒu zhège wèntí.
English: The first step to overcoming procrastination is admitting you have this problem.
Analysis: This sentence discusses the solution to procrastination, using the verb 克服 (kèfú), meaning “to overcome.”
Example 9:
这件事很重要，不容拖延。
Pinyin: Zhè jiàn shì hěn zhòngyào, bùróng tuōyán.
English: This matter is very important and allows for no delay.
Analysis: 不容 (bùróng) means “to not tolerate” or “to not allow.” It creates a very strong, formal tone, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the task.
Example 10:
在做决定时，他从不拖延。
Pinyin: Zài zuò juédìng shí, tā cóng bù tuōyán.
English: He never procrastinates when making decisions.
Analysis: This sentence describes someone who is the opposite of a procrastinator—decisive. Using 从不 (cóng bù), “never,” strongly negates the habit.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The most common mistake for learners is confusing 拖延 (tuōyán) with 推迟 (tuīchí). They both mean “to delay,” but their connotations are completely different.
拖延 (tuōyán) - To Procrastinate: This implies the delay is due to internal, subjective reasons like laziness, fear, or indecisiveness. It is almost always negative and suggests fault.
Example: 他拖延了很久才回复我的邮件。(Tā tuōyán le hěnjiǔ cái huífù wǒ de yóujiàn.) - He procrastinated for a long time before replying to my email. (Implies he was lazy or avoiding it).
推迟 (tuīchí) - To Postpone: This is a neutral or formal term for rescheduling something, often due to external, objective reasons. There is no blame implied.
Example: 因为台风，会议推迟到下周了。(Yīnwèi táifēng, huìyì tuīchí dào xià zhōu le.) - Because of the typhoon, the meeting has been postponed to next week.
Incorrect Usage:
Wrong: 我们的航班被拖延了。 (Wǒmen de hángbān bèi tuōyán le.)
Why it's wrong: A flight doesn't procrastinate. The delay is due to external factors (weather, mechanical issues).
Correct: 我们的航班被推迟了。(Wǒmen de hángbān bèi tuīchí le.) - Our flight was postponed/delayed.
Related Terms and Concepts
拖延症 (tuōyánzhèng) - The modern, informal term for “procrastination sickness/syndrome,” widely used to describe the condition of being a chronic procrastinator.
推迟 (tuīchí) - A key distinction. Means “to postpone” and is neutral, referring to an objective rescheduling rather than a blameworthy delay.
耽误 (dānwu) - To delay, but with a strong focus on the negative consequences or causing someone to be late. It's about holding things up and causing problems.
懒 (lǎn) - Lazy. Laziness is often seen as a primary cause of 拖延.
效率 (xiàolǜ) - Efficiency. The direct opposite of the outcome of procrastination. A person who doesn't 拖延 is said to have high 效率.
截止日期 (jiézhǐ rìqī) - Deadline. The event in time that often triggers anxiety for someone who tends to 拖延.
磨蹭 (móceng) - To dawdle, to dilly-dally. Describes the slow, time-wasting actions of someone who is procrastinating. It's more about the physical slowness.
今日事今日毕 (jīnrì shì jīnrì bì) - A four-character idiom (chengyu) meaning “Today's work should be finished today.” It is the philosophical opposite of 拖延.