Crane つる
tsuru2 characters2 strokes
つる (tsuru) means crane, the large, graceful bird with a long neck and long legs, a symbol of long life and good fortune in Japan.
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Meaning 意味
What つる means
The Japanese word for crane, written in hiragana and read tsuru.
Tsuru is the crane, a large, beautiful bird with a long neck and long legs. A Japanese saying tells us the crane lives a thousand years, so it is a sign of long life and happy occasions.
The word is written here in hiragana, which is far simpler to brush than the kanji 鶴 with its many strokes.
When people write it in Japan. Tsuru is a natural choice for kakizome, the first calligraphy of the New Year, when people wish for long life and family happiness. It also suits pieces about origami cranes and the wishes folded into them.
Written in kana, the Japanese syllables children learn first.
How to write it 書き方
Brush tips for つる
Three things to watch
- つ is a single stroke. Rise from the left toward the upper right, swell the right side out widely, and sweep long down to the left.
- In る, start with the short horizontal at the top and bring the stroke diagonally down to the lower left. From there, swing widely to the right to make a round shape.
- Finish る with a small loop at the lower left and stop firmly. Take care not to make the loop too large.
Stroke order
Follow the vermilion stroke, frame by frame.
Stroke order data: KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, CC BY-SA 3.0.
How to practice 練習
Trace first, then copy
- PrintPrint both pages at actual size, on US Letter or A4. Page 1 is the model. Page 2 is the tracing sheet.
- TraceTrace the outlines with a brush pen. Or lay thin hanshi paper over the page and trace with brush and ink.
- CopySet the model beside your paper and copy it stroke by stroke. Look at the model more than at your own paper.
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