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円規 (えんき) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

円えん規き

え

ん

き

Meanings

1

noun

pair of compasses; compass (drawing tool)

Refers specifically to the drawing instrument used for circles and arcs, not a magnetic compass.

数すう学がくの授じゅ業ぎょうで円えん規きを使つかって円えんを描かいた。
I drew a circle using a pair of compasses in math class.

Kanji

円circle, yen, round
規standard, measure

Similar words

コンパス
コンパス is the more common modern term for a drawing compass, while 円規 is a traditional kanji term often seen in older or formal contexts.
方ほう位い磁じ針しん
方位磁針 means a magnetic compass for navigation, not a drawing tool.

Etymology

Compound of 円 (circle) and 規 (standard, rule, compass). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji directly suggest 'circle standard/compass'.