猿猴が月を取る えんこうがつきをとる Meanings Expression, Godan verb to try and reach above one's station and fail (literally: a monkey catches (a reflection of) the moon (in the water)) Kanji 猿 monkey. Read as エン. 猴 monkey. Read as コウ. 月 month. Read as ガツ. 取 take. Read as とる. Word lists Idioms Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists