Translation guide
The act of delaying or postponing something, often an obligation, payment, or decision. In Japanese, the most natural translation depends on what is being deferred and the context.
To delay a scheduled event, meeting, plan, or action to a later time.
The most common and general word for postponing an event, meeting, or plan. Used in both formal and informal contexts.
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 defer my trip.
Often implies putting something off, especially a decision or problem, sometimes with a nuance of procrastination or kicking the can down the road.
その問題は先送りされた。
The issue was deferred (put off).
Used specifically for postponing an outdoor event to the next available date due to weather, etc. Common in sports and event announcements.
雨天のため試合は明日に順延となった。
The game has been postponed until tomorrow due to rain.
To delay a payment, debt, or financial obligation, often with official permission.
Refers to a grace period, postponement, or reprieve, often for payments, deadlines, or obligations. Common in legal and financial contexts.
支払いの猶予を申請した。
I applied for a deferment of payment.
ローン返済の猶予期間
a grace period for loan repayment
Specifically means deferred payment or payment by installments, often used in tax or tuition contexts.
A straightforward compound meaning 'payment postponement'. Less formal than 猶予 but easily understood.
支払い延期のお願い
request for payment deferment
Official postponement of compulsory service, such as military conscription or jury duty.
Also used for deferment of military service or other civic duties. Often appears as 徴兵猶予 (conscription deferment).
学生のための徴兵猶予
military service deferment for students
Literally 'military service postponement'. Used in contexts where conscription exists.
彼は兵役延期を認められた。
He was granted a deferment of military service.
To yield to another person's opinion, decision, or authority out of respect or lack of knowledge.
A natural way to express deferring to someone's judgment. Literally 'leave it to (person's) judgment'.
その件は上司の判断に任せます。
I'll defer to my boss's judgment on that matter.
Means to entrust or leave something to someone else. Often used when deferring a decision or responsibility.
最終決定は議長に委ねられた。
The final decision was deferred to the chairperson.
延期 (enki) is for events, plans, and schedules. 猶予 (yuuyo) is for obligations, payments, deadlines, and official duties. Using 延期 for a payment deferment sounds unnatural.
There is no single Japanese word that covers all uses of 'deferment'. Always consider what is being deferred and choose the appropriate term. Using 延期 for a loan payment or 猶予 for a picnic sounds odd.
I was granted a deferment of tax payment.