羅針盤(らしんばん)

らしんばん
noun
compass; magnetic compass
1. compass; magnetic compass
A navigational instrument that uses a magnetized needle to indicate direction. Also used figuratively to mean a guiding principle or moral compass.
羅針盤(らしんばん)で方角(ほうがく)を確認(かくにん)する。
To check the direction with a compass.
船(ふね)の羅針盤(らしんばん)が北(きた)を指(さ)している。
The ship's compass is pointing north.
先生(せんせい)の言葉(ことば)は、私(わたし)の人生(じんせい)の羅針盤(らしんばん)となった。
My teacher's words became the compass for my life.

The traditional Japanese word for a magnetic compass, composed of 羅(ら) (net, gauze), 針(しん) (needle), and 盤(ばん) (plate, board). Commonly used both literally for navigation and figuratively for guidance.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 人生(じんせい)の羅針盤(らしんばん): compass of one's life; guiding principle
  • 道徳(どうとく)の羅針盤(らしんばん): moral compass
  • 羅針盤(らしんばん)を失(うしな)う: to lose one's compass; to lose direction

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • コンパス: compass — the loanword, used more casually and also for a drawing compass
  • 方位磁針(ほういじしん): compass needle — the technical term
  • 指針(ししん): guiding principle — figurative sense only; used for policies or guiding ideas

ETYMOLOGY:
The character 羅(ら) originally referred to a silk net or fabric; 羅針(らしん) means 'a needle on a silk-covered plate,' referring to early compass designs. The word entered Japanese from Chinese maritime terminology.

general
Added 2026.4.9 0:39
23000/23006_rashinban