指し針しん

し

ん

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Physical pointer on a measuring instrument such as a compass, gauge, or clock.

Abstract standard or direction for action, policy, or thought. Often used in formal or organizational contexts.

〈物もの〉の指し針しんが振ふれるthe needle/pointer of a device swings
コンパスの指し針しんが北きたを指さして振ふれた。
The compass needle swung to point north.
指し針しんを示しめすto present a guiding principle or guideline
政せい府ふは今こん後ごの政せい策さくに関かんする指し針しんを示しめした。
The government presented guidelines for future policy.
〈事こと〉の指し針しんとなるto serve as a guiding principle for something
この報ほう告こく書しょは今こん後ごの研けん究きゅうの指し針しんとなるだろう。
This report will likely serve as a guide for future research.
指し針しんに従したがうto follow a set guideline or principle
社しゃ員いんは会かい社しゃの指し針しんに従したがって行こう動どうした。
The employees acted in accordance with the company's guidelines.

針はりN3sense 1
針 is the general word for a needle or hand (e.g. of a clock), while 指針 specifically denotes the pointer on a measuring instrument like a compass or gauge.
方ほう針しんN2sense 2
方針 refers to a concrete policy or course of action decided upon, whereas 指針 is a broader guiding standard that can be either abstract or physical.
指し標ひょう sense 2
指標 usually denotes a numerical or statistical index used to measure something, while 指針 is a guiding principle or a physical pointer, not a number.
ガイドライン sense 2
ガイドライン is a borrowed term for a formal set of guidelines, often used in official documents, while 指針 is the native Japanese word with a similar but slightly broader sense.
導しるべ
指針 refers to a guiding principle or policy, while 導 is a broader, more poetic term for guidance or a guide itself.

指 (finger, point) + 針 (needle). Originally referred to a physical needle that points, then extended metaphorically to a guiding principle.