針しん路ろ

し

ん

ろ

JLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

Primarily used in navigation (ships, aircraft) to mean the intended direction of travel. Can also be used metaphorically for a course of action or policy.

船ふねは針しん路ろを南みなみに取とった。
The ship set a course to the south.
政せい府ふは新あらたな経けい済ざい政せい策さくの針しん路ろを示しめした。
The government indicated the direction of its new economic policy.

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Usage patterns

針しん路ろを取とるto set a course (toward a destination)
船ふねは北きたへ針しん路ろを取とった。
The ship set a course to the north.
針しん路ろを変かえるto change course
台たい風ふうを避さけるために針しん路ろを変かえた。
We changed course to avoid the typhoon.
針しん路ろを誤あやまるto make a mistake in one's course (of action)
船せん長ちょうは針しん路ろを誤あやまり、岩がん礁しょうに近ちかづいてしまった。
The captain erred in his course and ended up nearing the reef.

Expressions

針しん路ろを逸それるswerve from the course; stray from the path

Kanji

針needle, pin, staple
路path, route, road

Related words

方ほう向こうN3
方向 is a general word for direction or orientation, while 針路 specifically refers to a planned navigational course, as of a ship or aircraft.
航こう路ろN1
航路 refers to an established sea or air route that vessels travel along, while 針路 is the specific compass bearing a ship or plane is currently steering.

Don't confuse with

進しん路ろN2
進路 and 針路 are pronounced identically (しんろ) but 進路 means a path forward in a broad sense (e.g. career path, a typhoon's track), while 針路 specifically means a compass-based navigational heading.

Etymology

Compound of 針 (needle, here referring to a compass needle) and 路 (path, route). The word originally described a ship's course as indicated by a compass.