一寸先は闇 いっすんさきはやみ Meanings Expression no one knows what the future holds; the future is a closed book (literally: one sun (unit of measurement) ahead is darkness) Kanji 一 one. Read as イチ. 寸 inch. Read as スン. 先 ahead. Read as さき. 闇 darkness. Read as やみ. Word lists Proverbs Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists