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道Nihongo Path
鶴

鶴·crane (bird)

On-yomi
none
Kun-yomi
つる

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

21 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
鶴つるcrane (bird)
千羽鶴せんばづるa thousand folded paper cranes
折り鶴おりづるpaper crane
鶴の一声つるのひとこえthe decisive word of an authority figure

Example sentences

  1. 折り鶴を千羽折って病院に届けた。

    おりづるをせんばおってびょういんにとどけた。

    We folded a thousand paper cranes and delivered them to the hospital.

  2. 社長の鶴の一声で計画が決まった。

    しゃちょうのつるのひとこえでけいかくがきまった。

    The plan was settled by a single word from the president.

  3. 湖に鶴が舞い降りた。

    みずうみにつるがまいおりた。

    A crane came gliding down onto the lake.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 千羽鶴 as せんばつる — it rendakus to せんばづる
  • 折り鶴 likewise becomes おりづる

Memory aid

Picture it

The bird 鳥 on the right, with a tall crested shape on the left — the bird with the long neck held high.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 鶴 mean?