noun
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.
北海道で鶴を見ました。
I saw cranes in Hokkaido.
折り紙で鶴を折る。
I fold a paper crane.
Native Japanese word. The kanji 鶴 is a pictograph of a crane.