Japanese meaning of 取らぬ狸の皮算用
Reading:
とらぬたぬきのかわざんよう (toranu tanuki no kawazanyō)
English Translation:
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Counting profits before they exist is risky.
Cultural Context:
Old hunting image with tanuki; common in investment, sales forecasting, and budgeting.
未確定の利益を当てにして計画する危うさという意味。
狸狩りの比喩に由来。投資・売上予測・予算編成で頻出。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 取らぬ (toranu) = classical negative form of 取る (toru, “to take/catch”)
• 狸 (tanuki) = “raccoon dog” (noun)
• の (no) = possessive/attributive particle
• 皮算用 (kawazanyō) = “counting the profit from a skin” (noun), meaning premature calculation
Relative clause + noun phrase, showing expectations before results.
Trap for English Speakers
Literal meaning may confuse learners; it warns against counting profits before they exist.
Example
Basic Example
確定していない利益をあてにするのは、取らぬ狸の皮算用だ。
Counting on profit before it’s certain is like not counting your chickens before they hatch.
Applied Example
まだ試合に勝ってもいないのに優勝旅行計画…取らぬ狸の皮算用だ。
Planning a victory trip before the match is won—don’t count your chickens before they hatch.