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鶴

On'yomi
カク
KAKU
Kun'yomi
つる
tsuru

crane · stork

Details

Strokes21
Frequency#1369
Radical鳥bird(11)

Stroke Order

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Strokes21

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of phonetic and bird. Crane bird.

Symbolism

Crane, long life, longevity. Represents crane.

Seasonal

Known as a winter migratory bird; "cranes arrive" is a winter seasonal word. Also a longevity symbol, displayed as New Year's good luck ornament.

Component Breakdown

鶴=
隺鳥

隺 + bird

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

閑雲野鶴

かんうんやかく

life in natural setting, free from worldly cares

風声鶴唳

ふうせいかくれい

getting frightened even by a slight noise; hearing the enemy in every leaf that rustles; being afraid of one's own shadow

鶴の一声

つるのひとこえ

One word from the crane; A powerful person's final word

Related Figures & Stories

井原西鶴

Ihara Saikaku1642–1693

Name contains 鶴

Ihara Saikaku ) was a Japanese poet and creator of the "floating world" genre of Japanese prose .

Wikipedia

白隠慧鶴

Hakuin Ekaku1686–1769

Name contains 鶴

Hakuin Ekaku , also known as Kokurin, was one of the most influential figures in Japanese Zen Buddhism, who regarded bodhicitta, working for the…

Wikipedia

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 鶴 mean in Japanese?

鶴 means crane, stork.

How do you read 鶴?

On'yomi: カク (KAKU). Kun'yomi: つる (tsuru).

How many strokes does 鶴 have?

鶴 has 21 strokes. Its radical is 鳥 (bird).

Is 鶴 a good kanji for a tattoo?

鶴 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means crane, stork. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.

Explore by meaning:crane