HSK 6 · Objects

指南针 zhǐnánzhēn “compass” in Chinese

Traditional 指南針

What 指南针 means

  1. compass

How to say 指南针

    指南针 in a sentence

    1. 指南针指向北边。

      Zhǐnánzhēn zhǐxiàng běibiān.

      The compass points north.

      Sentence #3470101 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

    2. 拿上你们的指南针。

      Ná shàng nǐmen de zhǐnánzhēn.

      Take your compasses with you.

      Sentence #10450760 from Tatoeba · converted to simplified characters · translation adapted

    3. 汤姆不会使用指南针。

      Tāngmǔ búhuì shǐyòng zhǐnánzhēn.

      Tom doesn’t know how to use a compass.

      Sentence #12333049 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

    How 指南针 is built

    Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.

    The character 指 (zhǐ) with each of its parts in a different colour
    指zhǐfinger
    • 扌hand form of 手 · shǒu
    • 旨aim · zhǐ
    The character 南 (nán) with each of its parts in a different colour
    南nánsouth
    • 十ten · shí
    • 冂down box · jiōng
    • 丷eight form of 八 · bā
    • 干dry · gān
    The character 针 (zhēn) with each of its parts in a different colour
    针zhēnneedle
    • 钅gold form of 金 · jīn
    • 十ten · shí

    How to write 指南针

    指 9 strokes · 南 9 strokes · 针 7 strokes

    Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.

    指南针 (zhǐnánzhēn) stroke order chart: each stroke of the characters in the order you write them
    Stroke order chart for 指南针 (zhǐnánzhēn). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.

    Words related to 指南针

    Words with 指

    指zhǐ · finger手指shǒuzhǐ · finger戒指jièzhi · (finger) ring指导zhǐdǎo · to guide指挥zhǐhuī · to conduct指甲zhǐjia · fingernail指示zhǐshì · to instruct指责zhǐzé · to criticise指定zhǐdìng · to appoint指望zhǐwàng · to count on

    Words with 南

    南nán · South南方nánfāng · the south西南xīnán · southwest东南dōngnán · southeast南辕北辙nányuánběizhé · to act in a way that defeats one’s purpose

    Words with 针

    打针dǎzhēn · to give or have an injection针对zhēnduì · to target方针fāngzhēn · policy

    More words: Objects & Materials

    渣zhā · dregs帐篷zhàngpeng · tent枕头zhěntou · pillow珍珠zhēnzhū · pearl砖zhuān · brick装备zhuāngbèi · equipment子弹zǐdàn · bullet钻石zuànshí · diamond

    FAQs

    指南针 (zhǐnánzhēn) means “compass”. It is an HSK 6 word.
    Say it zhǐnánzhēn: zhǐnánzhēn. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
    In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 指南针 is written 指南針. The pronunciation is the same.
    Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type zhinanzhen with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 指南针 from the suggestions. Typing zhinanzhen into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
    指南针 is an HSK 6 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.

    Turn words into conversations

    A dictionary gives you the words. A native teacher shows you how to use them. Start with a free 30-minute intro call.

    Book a free intro call

    Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.