Phrase guide

white crane

name · noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

name

Meaning 1

A style of Chinese martial arts

Ellipsis of Tibetan White Crane, a style of kung fu popularized across the world from its popularity in Cantonese media, adopted in Southern China as a native style, after being introduced from Western China.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

Topics: government, hobbies, lifestyle, martial-arts, military, politics, sports, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

name

Meaning 2

A style of Chinese martial arts

Ellipsis of Fujian White Crane.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis

Topics: government, hobbies, lifestyle, martial-arts, military, politics, sports, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Ellipsis of white crane style.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable

Topics: government, hobbies, lifestyle, martial-arts, military, politics, sports, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see white, crane.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From white + crane. Calque of Chinese 白鶴派 /白鹤派 (“white crane style”) * (Tibetan White Crane): From Cantonese 白鶴派 /白鹤派 (“white crane style”), from 西藏白鶴拳 /西藏白鹤拳 (“Tibetan white crane boxing”) * (Fujian White Crane): From Hokkien 白鶴派 /白鹤派 (“white crane style”)