Compass
noun
Spread out a needle in a tray of water after rubbing it with a magnet and you'll have made a compass! Try it at home kids! It really works!
This is a jukugo word that uses the on'yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.
彼は私にとって、人生の羅針盤だったのです。
He was my life’s compass.