expression
the accounts balance but the money is short; what works on paper doesn't always work in practice
A proverb meaning that even if calculations or plans seem correct in theory, the actual outcome may fall short. Often used when a budget or plan looks good on paper but fails in reality.
予算上は黒字なのに、実際の手元にはお金がない。まさに勘定合って銭足らずだ。
On paper the budget is in the black, but there's no actual cash on hand. It's exactly a case of 'the accounts balance but the money is short.'
Refers to an impractical theory or armchair argument, while 勘定合って銭足らず specifically highlights a discrepancy between calculations and actual resources.
A traditional Japanese proverb. The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely arose from mercantile or household contexts where bookkeeping showed a balance that did not match the physical cash on hand.