Compass in Chinese (Mandarin): 指南针 (zhǐnánzhēn)

指南针
zhǐnánzhēn
compass
- Simplified
- 指南针
- Traditional
- 指南針
- Pinyin
- zhǐnánzhēn
- Typed as
- zhinanzhen
Use it in a sentence
指南针能告诉我们哪边是南方。
指南針能告訴我們哪邊是南方。
A compass shows which way is south.
The characters in 指南针
指
To point. 扌 (hand) is on the left.
9 strokes
南
South.
9 strokes
针 / 針
Needle.
7 strokes
指南针 is a "south-pointing needle". Chinese compasses were said to point south, not north.
More examples with 指南针
指南针帮我们找方向。
指南針幫我們找方向。
Zhǐnánzhēn bāng wǒmen zhǎo fāngxiàng.
A compass helps us find our way.
船上有一个指南针。
船上有一個指南針。
Chuán shang yǒu yí gè zhǐnánzhēn.
There is a compass on the ship.
How to write 指南针 in Chinese
Each box adds one stroke, in red. Write them in this order.
指 9 strokes
南 9 strokes
针 7 strokes
In Traditional characters:
針 10 strokes
Learn it in a lesson
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