• 針路しんろ — course; route; path
• 磁針じしん — magnetic needle (compass)
• 方針ほうしん — policy; direction
• 時針じしん — hour hand
• 秒針びょうしん — second hand
• 分針ふんしん — minute hand
• 注射針ちゅうしゃばり — injection needle

The kanji 針 combines 金 (metal) with 十 (cross/plus), representing a small, sharp metal object — a needle or pin. By extension it also points the way, as in a compass needle, and metaphorically sets “direction” in words like 方針 (policy).