猿猴捉月 えんこうそくげつ Meanings Noun trying to reach above one's station and failing; trying to accomplish something beyond one's abilities and failing (literally: monkey catching (a reflection of) the moon (in the water)) Kanji 猿 monkey. Read as エン. 猴 monkey. Read as コウ. 捉 seize. Read as ソク. 月 month. Read as ゲツ. Word lists Yojijukugo (四字熟語) Jinuma: Japanese Dictionary · Word lists