Translation guide
To make something last longer in time. The most common Japanese equivalents are 延ばす (のばす) for extending a period or deadline, and 長引かせる (ながびかせる) for causing a situation to drag on. The choice depends on whether you are actively extending a scheduled thing or causing a process to continue longer than expected.
To make a scheduled time, event, or period last longer than originally planned.
Transitive verb meaning to extend or postpone a time limit, deadline, or period. Often used with words like 期限 (deadline), 滞在 (stay), 時間 (time).
I prolonged my stay by one week.
Could you extend the deadline?
Slightly more formal suru-verb for extending a period, term, or contract. Common in official contexts.
We will prolong the meeting by 30 minutes.
Literally 'stretch out', can mean to prolong a time period, but often implies dragging something out unnecessarily. Less common for neutral extension.
It's a strategy to prolong the negotiations.
To make an event, condition, or process continue longer than desired or expected, often with a negative nuance.
Transitive form of 長引く (to drag on). Used when someone or something causes a situation to be prolonged, often with a negative connotation.
His speech prolonged the meeting.
Pointless arguments are prolonging the resolution of the problem.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to drag on' or 'be prolonged'. Use this when the subject itself is the thing that continues for a long time.
A phrase meaning 'it will end up prolonging'. Used to warn that an action will cause a delay or drag things out.
To extend the duration of a sound, musical note, or voice.
Used for stretching out a sound or note. Also used for prolonging time, but here it's specifically about sound.
He prolonged the last note.
Can also mean to lengthen a sound, especially in singing or speaking. Often used for vowels.
To make something like a battery, product, or lifespan last longer.
延ばす (のばす) is used for planned extensions (deadlines, stays). 長引かせる (ながびかせる) is used when a situation is dragged out, often with a negative nuance. Do not use 延ばす for a meeting that is running over time; use 長引く or 長引かせる instead.
The English word 'prolong' is not commonly used as a loanword in Japanese. Using プロロングする would sound unnatural. Stick to the verbs above.
会議が長引いている。
The meeting is being prolonged.
Doing that will prolong the negotiations.
The singer prolonged the high note.