Translation guide
The English verb "postpone" means to delay an event or action to a later time. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 延期する (enki suru), but other expressions like 先送りする (sakiokuri suru) or 後回しにする (atomawashi ni suru) are used depending on context. This guide covers natural ways to express postponement in various situations.
To reschedule a meeting, event, trip, etc. to a later time.
The standard, neutral verb for postponing events, meetings, trips, etc. Can be used in both formal and informal settings.
会議を来週に延期しました。
We postponed the meeting to next week.
The trip has been postponed.
Literally 'to extend/stretch', used for delaying deadlines or appointments. More casual than 延期する.
締め切りを延ばしてもらえますか？
Could you postpone the deadline?
To put off until later, often with a nuance of procrastination or kicking the can down the road. Common in business or political contexts.
問題の解決を先送りしてはいけない。
We must not postpone solving the problem.
To put something off and do it later, often implying lower priority. Used for tasks or chores.
掃除を後回しにして、テレビを見た。
I put off cleaning and watched TV.
To put off making a decision or taking action, often temporarily.
To procrastinate or keep putting something off. Often used for unpleasant tasks or decisions.
決断を先延ばしにしている。
I'm postponing the decision.
To postpone or pass on something for now, often with the nuance of waiting for a better time. Used for plans, purchases, or proposals.
新製品の発売は見送られた。
The launch of the new product was postponed.
To carry over to the next term/session; used for unresolved matters in meetings or official contexts.
To defer a payment, deadline, or duty to a later date.
To grant a grace period or deferment. Formal, used for payments, deadlines, or execution of sentences.
支払いを猶予してもらった。
I got the payment postponed.
A more casual way to say 'extend the payment period'.
クレジットカードの支払いを延ばすことはできません。
You cannot postpone your credit card payment.
To put off doing something, often due to laziness or lack of motivation.
The most common way to say 'procrastinate' in everyday speech.
宿題を先延ばしにしてゲームをした。
I put off my homework and played games.
To dawdle or procrastinate, often implying hesitation or laziness.
ぐずぐずしてないで、早くやりなさい。
Stop postponing it and do it quickly.
延期する is the safest, most neutral choice for rescheduling events. 延ばす is more casual and often used for deadlines or personal schedules. 先送りする implies a negative nuance of avoiding a problem or decision, similar to 'kicking the can down the road'.
While ポストポーンする is sometimes used in IT contexts (e.g., postponing a task in project management), it is not natural in general Japanese. Stick to the expressions above.
会議を延期できますか？
Can we postpone our meeting?
歯医者の予約をずっと先延ばしにしている。
I keep postponing my dentist appointment.
雨でイベントは延期になった。
The event was postponed due to rain.
その議題は次回に持ち越された。
That agenda item was postponed to the next meeting.