Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

鶴 (つる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

鶴つる

つ

る

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

Refers to any bird of the family Gruidae, but especially the red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), a symbol of longevity and good fortune in Japan.

北ほっ海かい道どうで鶴つるを見みました。
I saw cranes in Hokkaido.

折おり紙がみで鶴つるを折おる。

I fold a paper crane.

Usage patterns

紙かみで鶴つるを折おるto fold an origami crane out of paper
祖そ母ぼのために紙かみで鶴つるを折おった。
I folded a paper crane for my grandmother.
鶴つるが舞まうfor a crane to dance/soar gracefully (often in poetic or artistic contexts)
冬ふゆの湖みずうみの上うえを鶴つるが舞まっていた。
Cranes were dancing gracefully over the winter lake.

Expressions· 7

鶴つるの一ひと声こえfinal word; voice of authority; authoritative pronouncement
鶴つるの巣す籠ごもりcrane's nest tesuji
掃はき溜だめに鶴つるa jewel in a dunghill
亀かめの年としを鶴つるが羨うらやむsome people are never satisfied; the crane envies the longevity of the turtle
焼やけ野のの雉夜きぎすよるの鶴つるparents risk everything for their children

Show 2 more

雀すずめの千せん声こえ鶴つるの一ひと声こえthe word of a wise man is worth the words of one thousand fools
鶴つるは千せん年ねん亀かめは万まん年ねんlong life is a blessing; cranes live 1000 years, turtles 10,000 years

Kanji

鶴crane, stork

Related words

引ひきつるN1
つる is the shorter, everyday verb for a sudden muscle cramp (足がつった), while 引きつる sounds more descriptive and can imply a more prolonged or visible spasm.

Don't confuse with

亀かめN1
鶴 (crane) and 亀 (turtle) are frequently paired in the proverb 鶴は千年亀は万年 as symbols of longevity, but they are entirely different animals and learners sometimes mix up which one is the bird.
クレーンN1
クレーン refers only to the lifting machine, while 鶴 is the bird also called 'crane' in English; they share no meaning in Japanese despite the English overlap.
弦つる
弦 (つる, bowstring/string) and 鶴 (つる, crane) are pronounced identically but refer to completely unrelated things—a taut cord versus a bird.
白はく鳥ちょうN1
白鳥 (swan) and 鶴 (crane) are both large, elegant water-associated birds that learners often mix up, but they are entirely different species.

Counted with

羽わN3
counter for birds; counter for rabbits

Word family· 20

マナヅル
white-naped crane
千せん羽ば鶴づる
many paper cranes; a string of 1000 paper cranes
折おり鶴づる
paper crane; origami crane
つるはし
pickaxe; pick

Written forms

鶴つるUsage69%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
ツルUsage30%
kana-only spelling
つるUsage1%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji is not needed.

Etymology

Native Japanese word. The kanji 鶴 is a pictograph of a crane.

カンムリヅル

black crowned crane

Show 9 more

べにづる
flamingo
ナベヅル
hooded crane
鶴つる亀かめ
crane and tortoise; symbol of longevity
鶴つる首くび
long-necked item; crane-necked object · long-necked person
鸛鶴こうづる
Oriental stork
くろづる
common crane (Grus grus)
たんちょうづる
red-crowned crane; Japanese crane
アネハヅル
demoiselle crane; Numidian crane
ドクツルタケ
destroying angel (Amanita virosa)

See all 20 in Explore →