Proverb / Kotowaza
三日坊主
Giving up on something quickly or being unable to stick to a routine for long.
A monk for three days
Quick Answer
Giving up on something quickly or being unable to stick to a routine for long.
- Literal Image
- A monk for three days
- Closest Equivalent
- Soon hot, soon cold
- How to Use It
- Used to describe a lack of persistence or to characterize someone who starts and stops new hobbies or goals.
Meaning
This expression describes someone who starts a new activity or resolution with enthusiasm but quits after only a few days. The term refers to the image of someone who joins a temple to become a monk but quickly abandons the lifestyle because they cannot endure the strictness of the training.
Literal Image
A monk for three days
Equivalent Proverbs
Soon hot, soon cold
Refers to things that cool down as quickly as they heat up.
How to Use It
Used to describe a lack of persistence or to characterize someone who starts and stops new hobbies or goals.
Tone
This expression is used in self-deprecating or slightly critical contexts regarding failed resolutions and habits.
Examples
日記をつけ始めたが、一週間も経たないうちにやめてしまった。我ながら三日坊主で情けない。
I started keeping a diary but quit within a week. I am disappointed in my own lack of persistence.
ダイエットも英会話も三日坊主に終わった彼が、今度はマラソンを始めるという。
He, who gave up on both dieting and English classes after just a few days, says he is starting marathon training now.
三日坊主にならないよう、まずは小さな目標から始めてみることにした。
To avoid giving up too quickly, I decided to start with small goals.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses basic kanji for 'three days', but the idiomatic use of 'bozu' (monk) to mean lack of persistence is a specific idiomatic concept.
三日
みっか / mikka
three days
坊主
ぼうず / bozu
Buddhist monk; priest
Usage Profile
Usage note: Using this for others can sound dismissive of their efforts if they are genuinely struggling.
Misread Risk
Do not interpret this as a statement about religion; it is a secular metaphor for lack of follow-through.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.