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Proverbs

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.
日本語で読む
未確定の利益を当てにして計画する危うさという意味。

Cultural Context:

Old hunting image with tanuki; common in investment, sales forecasting, and budgeting.
日本語で読む
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”)<br>• 狸 (tanuki) = “raccoon dog” (noun)<br>• の (no) = possessive/attributive particle<br>• 皮算用 (kawazanyō) = “counting the profit from a skin” (noun), meaning premature calculation<br>Relative clause + noun phrase, showing expectations before results.
日本語で読む
• 取らぬ = 動詞「取る」の古典的否定形で「取らない」の意味<br>• 狸 = 「タヌキ」を表す名詞<br>• の = 所有・連体を示す助詞<br>• 皮算用 = 「利益を見積もること」を意味する名詞句<br>未達成の事柄を前提に計算する様子を表します。

Trap for English Speakers

Literal meaning may confuse learners; it warns against counting profits before they exist.
日本語で読む
狩りや皮の直訳に囚われやすいが、未確定の利益を当てにしない戒め。

Example

Example 1Basic Example

  1. 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.

Example 2Applied Example

  1. 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.

Quick check

Meaning

What does 「取らぬ狸の皮算用」 mean?

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