crane

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 鶴 denotes a crane; its on-reading is かく, and its kun-reading is つる.
• Basic usage: Standalone 鶴 refers to the bird, while 折り鶴 refers to a paper crane.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 鶴 / 折り鶴
  • 鶴: This noun refers to a crane seen in wetlands. Example: 湿原で二羽の鶴がゆっくり歩いていた。
  • 折り鶴: Read as おりづる, this word refers to a crane folded from colored paper. Example: 色紙で小さな折り鶴を作った。