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.
Please lengthen this skirt.
We need to lengthen the rope.
To stretch or extend something, often implying pulling or straightening. Used for elastic things, limbs, hair, etc.
I'm growing my hair long (lengthening my hair).
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.
Construction to lengthen the road has begun.
To lengthen by adding a piece or splicing. Used for ropes, wires, or when physically joining something.
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.
I'd like to lengthen my stay.
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.
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.
Please lengthen that note when you sing.
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.
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.
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.
Can you lengthen these pants?
The days are lengthening.
We need to lengthen the deadline.
He lengthened the story (stretched it out).
In the afternoon, shadows lengthen.