指南针 (zhǐ nán zhēn) — compass (magnetic direction-finding tool)

Definition

Examples

• 古代人出海时靠指南针辨别方向。
  Gǔ dài rén chū hǎi shí kào zhǐ nán zhēn biàn bié fāng xiàng.
  Ancient people relied on compasses to find their way when sailing.
• 我的指南针坏了，现在不知道往哪走。
  Wǒ de zhǐ nán zhēn huài le, xiàn zài bù zhī dào wǎng nǎ zǒu.
  My compass is broken; now I don't know which way to go.
• 没有指南针，你也能通过太阳的位置判断方向。
  Méi yǒu zhǐ nán zhēn, nǐ yě néng tōng guò tài yáng de wèi zhì pàn duàn fāng xiàng.
  Even without a compass, you can determine direction by the sun's position.