指南针
Old HSK 6
指南针 (zhǐnánzhēn) · compass
指南针 (zhǐnánzhēn) means “compass”. It is written with 3 characters: 指 (to point at) + 南 (south) + 针 (needle). It is an old HSK 6 word (HSK 2.0).
How 指南针 is built
The characters
指 zhǐ · to point at
What 指 is made of
- 扌shǒu — hand
- 二 — two strokes
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 亅 — hook
- 二 — two strokes
- 旨zhǐ — aim
- 匕bǐ — spoon
- 乚 — hook stroke
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 日rì — sun; day
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 匕bǐ — spoon
Origin hint: To point 旨 by hand 扌; 旨 also provides the pronunciation (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
南 nán · south
What 南 is made of
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 丷ha — kwukyel
- 丶 — dot
- 干gàn — dry (gān)
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
Origin hint: A musical bell (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
针 zhēn · needle
What 针 is made of
- 钅jīn — metal
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
Origin hint: A metal 钅 pin 十 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
指南针是中国古代的发明。Zhǐnánzhēn shì zhōngguó gǔdài de fāmíng.The compass was invented in ancient China.
在森林里要带指南针。Zài sēnlín lǐ yào dài zhǐnánzhēn.Take a compass in the forest.
Questions about 指南针
What does 指南针 mean?
指南针 (zhǐnánzhēn) means “compass”.
How do you pronounce 指南针?
指南针 is pronounced zhǐnánzhēn.
Which HSK level is 指南针?
指南针 is in Old HSK 6.
Related words
- 手指shǒuzhǐfinger
- 指出zhǐchūto point out
- 指导zhǐdǎoto guide
- 指挥zhǐhuīto conduct
- 戒指jièzhiring (on a finger)
- 指标zhǐbiāotarget
- 指定zhǐdìngto designate
- 指甲zhǐjiafingernail
- 指令zhǐlìnginstruction
- 指示zhǐshìinstruction
Learn 指南针 with its group
It is part of Old HSK 6 · Group 237: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.