鶴つるは千せん年ねん亀かめは万まん年ねん

expression

long life is a blessing; cranes live 1000 years, turtles 10,000 years

Proverb used to celebrate longevity, often in congratulatory contexts. The literal meaning is that cranes live for 1000 years and turtles for 10,000 years, symbolizing a wish for a long life.

• おじいちゃんの米べい寿じゅのお祝いわいに、「鶴つるは千せん年ねん亀かめは万まん年ねん」と言いって乾かん杯ぱいした。

  At grandpa's 88th birthday celebration, we toasted, saying 'Cranes live a thousand years, turtles ten thousand years.'