取(と)らぬ狸(たぬき)の皮算用(かわざんよう)

とらぬたぬきのかわざんよう
expression (proverb)
counting one's chickens before they hatch
proverb
1. counting one's chickens before they hatch
Making plans that depend on a gain one does not have yet; literally, reckoning the price of the pelt of a raccoon dog not yet caught.
取(と)らぬ狸(たぬき)の皮算用(かわざんよう)だ。
That's counting your chickens before they hatch.
宝(たから)くじが当(あ)たったらなんて、取(と)らぬ狸(たぬき)の皮算用(かわざんよう)だよ。
Planning for a lottery win is counting your chickens before they hatch.
まだ契約(けいやく)も決(き)まっていないのに利益(りえき)の使(つか)い道(みち)を話(はな)し合(あ)うのは、取(と)らぬ狸(たぬき)の皮算用(かわざんよう)だ。
Discussing how to spend the profits when the contract isn't even settled is counting our chickens before they hatch.

取(と)らぬ is the classical negative of 取(と)る (取(と)らない). The proverb is often shortened to 皮算用(かわざんよう).

Common patterns

  • 〜なんて取(と)らぬ狸(たぬき)の皮算用(かわざんよう)だ: ... is counting your chickens
  • 取(と)らぬ狸(たぬき)の皮算用(かわざんよう)に終(お)わる: to end up as wishful planning
  • 皮算用(かわざんよう)をする: to count one's chickens

Writing

Also written 捕(と)らぬ狸(たぬき)の皮算用(かわざんよう), with a different kanji for とる.

general
Added 2026.10.3 9:39 · Revised 2026.10.3 9:42
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