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鶴の一声

つるのひとこえ

voice of authority that settles a matter

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 社長の鶴の一声で決まった。

    しゃちょうのつるのひとこえできまった。

    It was settled by one word from the president.

  2. 鶴の一声で方針が変わった。

    つるのひとこえでほうしんがかわった。

    A single word from on high changed the policy.

  3. 長い議論も、会長の鶴の一声であっさり片づいた。

    ながいぎろんも、かいちょうのつるのひとこえであっさりかたづいた。

    The long debate was settled in an instant by the chairman's word.

  4. 鶴の一声に頼る組織は、やがて議論の力を失う。

    つるのひとこえにたよるそしきは、やがてぎろんのちからをうしなう。

    An organization that relies on the boss's word eventually loses the ability to debate.

Common patterns

鶴の一声で決まる
to be decided by one word from the top
社長の鶴の一声
a single word from the president
鶴の一声が出る
for the decisive word to come down

Memory tip

A crane's single cry carries over the chatter of many smaller birds. It refers to the one word from a top figure that ends all debate, often with a hint that the process was not democratic.

Kanji in this word

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What does 鶴の一声 mean?