How to say "crane" in Japanese

• クレーンJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe machine sense: a crane that lifts heavy loads, as on construction sites. When English 'crane' refers to equipment, this katakana loanword is the word you want.
  クレーンを操縦そうじゅうするのには、勿論もちろん、免許めんきょが必要ひつようです。↗

  Of course, a license is needed to operate a crane.
• 鶴つるCommon
  nounThe bird sense: any crane of the family Gruidae, especially the red-crowned crane. Use this for the animal in nature, art, or symbolism; it is never used for the lifting machine.
  ツルは大おおきくて美うつくしい鳥とりだ。↗

  Cranes are big beautiful birds.

Use 「クレーン」 for the lifting machine and 鶴 for the bird; the two cover entirely different senses, so the choice depends only on whether you mean construction equipment or the animal.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• クレーンcrane (machine)
• 鶴つるcrane (any bird of the family Gruidae, esp. the red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis)
• 田鶴たずcrane (bird)
• 起重機きじゅうきcrane
• クレーン車クレーンしゃ(mobile) crane