godan verb (-su), transitive verb
grow long; let grow
Only when written 伸ばす
Used transitively for letting hair, nails, a beard, etc. become longer; normally written 伸ばす.
彼女は髪を肩まで伸ばしている。
She is growing her hair down to her shoulders.
爪を伸ばしすぎると、ピアノが弾きにくい。
If you let your nails grow too long, it is hard to play the piano.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
A broad physical use: make something longer, pull it out, stretch it, or extend a line, route, or object. 伸ばす is natural for stretching; 延ばす is natural for extending a line or route.
運動の前にゴムをゆっくり伸ばす。
Slowly stretch the band before exercising.
市はバス路線を駅前まで延ばした。
The city extended the bus route to the front of the station.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
reach out; hold out
Only when written 伸ばす
Used when extending a hand, arm, leg, or similar body part toward something; normally written 伸ばす.
子どもは棚の上のお菓子に手を伸ばした。
The child reached out toward the snacks on the shelf.
彼は足を伸ばしてソファに座った。
He sat on the sofa with his legs stretched out.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Only when written 伸ばす
Used for making a bent, wrinkled, or uneven thing straight or smooth, such as one's back, wrinkles, or creases.
アイロンでシャツのしわを伸ばす。
I smooth out the wrinkles in the shirt with an iron.
面接の前に背筋を伸ばした。
I straightened my back before the interview.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
spread evenly; roll out; thinly apply
Used for spreading or flattening something evenly over an area, especially dough, cream, paint, or similar substances.
麺棒で生地を薄く伸ばす。
Roll the dough out thinly with a rolling pin.
クリームを顔全体に薄く伸ばしてください。
Spread the cream thinly over your whole face.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Used for reducing concentration by adding water, broth, solvent, or another liquid; common with sauces, paint, soup, and cosmetics.
濃いソースは少し水で伸ばすと使いやすい。
A thick sauce is easier to use if you thin it with a little water.
絵の具を水で伸ばしてから塗った。
I diluted the paint with water before applying it.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
postpone; put off; extend a deadline
Only when written 延ばす
Used for moving a scheduled time or deadline later; 延ばす is the typical kanji for this temporal sense.
雨のため、試合を来週に延ばした。
Because of the rain, they postponed the game until next week.
レポートの締め切りを三日延ばしてもらった。
I had the report deadline extended by three days.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
prolong; extend in duration
Only when written 延ばす
Used for making a period, life span, time limit, or duration last longer; often written 延ばす when the focus is time.
医療の進歩が人の寿命を延ばしてきた。
Advances in medicine have prolonged human life spans.
会議が長引いたので、休憩時間を十分延ばした。
Since the meeting ran long, we extended the break time enough.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Only when written 伸ばす
Used for improving or increasing an ability, talent, skill, score, sales, influence, or similar potential; normally written 伸ばす.
子どもの才能を伸ばすには、環境が大切だ。
A good environment is important for developing a child's talent.
新商品のおかげで売り上げを大きく伸ばした。
Thanks to the new product, the company greatly increased its sales.