How to say "compass" in Japanese

• コンパスJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe drawing instrument — the hinged, two-legged tool for drawing circles and arcs; 'pair of compasses' in English. The word you want for the drafting or geometry sense.
  私はコンパスで円えんを描えがいた。↗

  I drew a circle with compasses.
• 音域おんいきCommon
  nounNot a device at all — this covers the musical sense of 'compass': the range or register of a voice or instrument, how high or low it can go.
• 羅針盤らしんばんCommon
  nounThe navigational compass: the instrument with a magnetized needle that points north. This is the word for the direction-finding device, as in navigation or hiking.
  私は、この羅針盤らしんばんの使い方つかいかたを知しりません。↗

  I don't know how to use this compass.
• 磁石じしゃくJLPT N2approx.Common
  no-adjectiveEssentially the word for a magnet; it can also stand for a compass, the magnetic kind that shows direction. When you mean the navigational instrument itself, 羅針盤 is the more specific term.
  磁石じしゃくの針はりは北きたを指さす。↗

  Compass needles point to the north.

For the drawing instrument use 「コンパス」; for the direction-finding compass use 羅針盤 or 磁石; 音域 is the figurative musical sense — the range of a voice or instrument, not a device.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• コンパスcompass (for drawing circles, etc.)
• 音域おんいきrange (of a voice or instrument)
• 羅針盤らしんばんcompass
• 羅針儀らしんぎcompass
• 方位磁石ほういじしゃくcompass
• 方位磁針ほういじしんcompass
• 羅盤らばんcompass
• 方位計ほういけいdirection indicator
• 磁石じしゃくcompass